Ultra-processed foods linked to higher pediatric MS risk and adult cognitive decline

A Canadian‑US study of 80 children with pediatric‑onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and 46 controls found that each 10 % increase in ultra‑processed food consumption was associated with a 35 % higher odds of developing POMS. Researchers noted the association does not prove causation and called for longitudinal studies.

Separately, research involving more than 2,100 dementia‑free Australian adults showed that a 10 % rise in ultra‑processed food intake – roughly the equivalent of an extra packet of chips per day – corresponded with measurable drops in visual attention and processing speed, as well as higher prevalence of dementia‑risk factors such as hypertension and obesity. Participants derived about 41 % of daily energy from ultra‑processed foods, mirroring national averages.

Both studies add to growing evidence that high consumption of ultra‑processed foods may adversely affect brain health across the lifespan, from childhood neurological disorders to adult cognitive performance.