Two Slices Of Deli Meat A Day Linked To 44% Higher Dementia Risk

Key Points:

• A large UK study linked eating an additional 25 grams (about two slices of deli turkey) of processed meat daily to a 44-52% increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, based on data from nearly 500,000 people.
• Ultraprocessed foods, which include sodas, packaged snacks, frozen meals, and processed meats, make up over half of daily calories in countries like the US and UK, and are associated with inflammation, vascular damage, and disrupted brain cell communication.
• Analysis suggests replacing 10% of ultraprocessed food calories with unprocessed foods may reduce dementia risk by 19%, while higher intake of these foods is also linked to increased depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as smaller brain volume and brain tissue damage.
• Animal studies indicate certain additives in ultraprocessed foods, such as artificial sweeteners and whitening agents, may contribute to brain changes related to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, but human evidence remains moderate and inconclusive.
• Researchers emphasize that causation is not proven and call for better-designed human trials, but recommend reducing ultraprocessed food consumption as a precautionary measure to support brain health and potentially lower dementia risk.