Eating just a few slices of deli meat daily linked to higher dementia risk: study

Key Points:

• A new review published in the August 2026 Annual Review of Nutrition links eating just two slices (25 grams) of processed deli meat daily to a 44% higher risk of all-cause dementia and a 52% higher risk of Alzheimer's disease.
• The study, involving nearly 500,000 people and an international team of 27 researchers, examined the broader impact of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) on brain health, highlighting that UPFs often contain additives like emulsifiers and preservatives that may harm health.
• Researchers suggest two main theories for UPFs' negative effects on the brain: damage to heart and blood vessel health affecting the brain, and certain additives disrupting brain chemistry, though further research and clinical trials are needed.
• UPFs constitute about 55% of Americans' daily calories and are linked to increased dementia risk; replacing 10% of UPF calories with unprocessed foods could reduce dementia risk by 19%, supporting the "healthy heart, healthy mind" dietary approach.
• Experts caution that not all UPFs are equally harmful, with some fortified cereals and dairy products potentially being neutral or beneficial, and emphasize that occasional indulgence is acceptable while encouraging diets rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and polyphenols.