Harvard study links ultraprocessed food consumption to higher dementia risk

Researchers at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed health data from more than 5,300 older American adults over nearly a decade. Participants who ate over two pounds of ultraprocessed foods such as hot dogs, cookies, and smoked meats each day faced a 58% higher risk of developing dementia and a 46% higher risk of cognitive impairment, compared with those who ate less.

The study, which used data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, found processed meats to carry the greatest risk. While the findings add to a growing body of evidence linking ultraprocessed diets to brain health issues, the researchers note the data are self‑reported and cannot prove direct causality. Nonetheless, the results suggest no safe level of consumption and may inform future public‑health recommendations.