Monash Study Links Ultraprocessed Foods to Cognitive Decline

A new study from Monash University has revealed that diets high in ultraprocessed foods may impair brain function and heighten dementia risk, even among those who maintain otherwise healthy eating habits. Researchers analyzed dietary patterns and cognitive performance in more than 2,100 middle-aged and older Australians without dementia, finding that increased consumption of these foods correlates with reduced attention and focus.

The cross-sectional research, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, examined how ultraprocessed foods—such as soft drinks, packaged salty snacks, and ready-made meals—affect cognitive abilities. Participants derived about 41 percent of their daily energy from these items, aligning with Australia's national average of 42 percent. Lead author Dr. Barbara Cardoso, from Monash University's Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, noted that the effects were evident regardless of overall diet quality. "The adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet did not counterbalance the negative association we found for ultraprocessed foods," she said.

Key results showed that for every 10 percent increase in ultraprocessed...