Netherlands study links ultra‑processed foods to reduced concentration while highlighting brain‑boosting nutrients

Research discussed in Dutch health reports outlines two contrasting dietary findings. Nutrition expert Babak Tousi, speaking with the Cleveland Clinic, notes that regular consumption of fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna, blueberries, leafy greens, walnuts, coffee and dark chocolate can support memory, learning and overall cognitive function.

Conversely, Australian scientists analysing data from more than 2,100 adults without dementia found a clear association between higher intakes of ultra‑processed foods – items like salty snacks, cookies, ready‑made meals and certain breakfast products – and poorer performance on attention and processing‑speed tests. Even a modest 10 % increase in ultra‑processed foods—equivalent to an extra bag of chips—correlated with lower concentration scores, a pattern that persisted among participants who otherwise followed largely healthy or Mediterranean diets. Researchers caution that the link does not prove causation but adds to evidence that heavily processed foods may affect brain health alongside known risks for weight gain and cardiovascular issues.