Ultra-processed foods are everywhere in Western diets. A new study found another way they harm human health — this time targeting the brain’s ability to focus attention.
Researchers link ultra-processed foods to worse attention
A team at Monash University in Australia, led by biochemist and dietitian Barbara Cardoso, examined how attention, dementia risk, and the share of ultra-processed foods in people’s diets are related.
The scientists surveyed 2,192 people aged 40–70. None of the participants had dementia. Volunteers completed a food questionnaire and took four cognitive tests that measured attention and memory.
Participants also provided demographic information, details about their physical activity, and health histories. The researchers then used a forecasting tool to calculate each person’s 20-year risk of developing dementia.
While this type of observational study can’t prove that ultra-processed foods cause brain problems, it did reveal consistent patterns linking diet and cognition.
The study classified the following as ultra-processed foods:
- bottled or packaged soft drinks
- potato chips
- ready-made factory-packaged meals
- dairy desserts
- sausages
Overall, ultra-processed foods made up about 41 percent of the participants’ total food intake. Younger participants and men consumed substantially more of them.
For every 10 percent increase in the share of ultra-processed foods in a person’s diet, the researchers observed a significant drop in that person’s ability to concentrate. Higher intake of these foods also corresponded with a higher risk of developing dementia.
“A 10 percent increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods is roughly equivalent to adding a standard bag of chips to your daily diet,” Barbara Cardoso said.
The study also found several factors associated with high consumption of ultra-processed foods, including:
- lower education levels
- younger age and being male
- not following a Mediterranean-style diet
But sticking to a healthy plan like the Mediterranean diet made little difference if ultra-processed foods still made up a large part of the diet.
The authors wrote that this suggests food processing itself, rather than just a lack of nutrients, is what most affects cognitive health.
“Deep processing of foods often destroys their natural structure and leads to the formation of potentially harmful substances, such as artificial additives or chemicals used in processing,” Cardoso explained.
Additives might explain it — but there are other possibilities
First, ultra-processed foods are linked with metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, all of which can negatively affect brain function.
Second, people with lower attention scores and a higher risk of dementia may be more likely to eat ultra-processed foods.
Where someone lives also affects their access to healthy food.
Scientists will need more research to dig deeper into the issue. Still, the current findings are enough to make you think about swapping a hot dog for a salad sandwich — preferably on whole-grain bread.
The study was published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
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