Highly processed foods linked to dementia risk

Dementia from the wrong diet?

when people have large amounts of highly processed foods Consume it is associated with an increased risk of developing Madness tied together. The popularity of foods like chips and soda may be one reason why dementia is on the rise around the world.

In a new study involving experts Tianjin Medical University In China, the relationship between highly processed foods and the incidence of dementia was investigated. The results were published in the journal “neurology“Published.

Evaluated data from UK Biobank

The researchers used the data 72,083 people UK Biobank, Participants were at least 55 years old and free of dementia at the start of the study. All participants were clinically monitored for an average period of ten years. During this period, 518 people developed dementia.

diet as prescribed by questionnaire

The participants were instructed to at least two questionnaires To fill up on what they ate and drank the previous day. Then the experts determined how much highly processed food was consumed. number of villages Count these foods.

This value was compared to the number of grams of the other food item. so the team was able Percent Highly processed foods in daily consumption. After that, the participants were group of four Classified on the basis of consumption of highly processed foods.

Which foods are highly processed?

Highly processed foods contain few healthy ingredients, such as protein and fiberbut a high amount Sugar, Fat and Salt,

According to the researchers, typical highly processed foods include soft drinks, salty and sugary snacks, ice cream, sausage, ketchup, mayonnaise, packaged guacamole, packaged bread and flavored cereals.

Poor memory due to unhealthy diet

,Highly processed foods are meant to be convenient and tasty, but they reduce the quality of the diet. However, these foods may also contain food additives or molecules from packaging or heating that other studies have shown have negative effects on thinking and memory.‘ report the author of the study Dr. Huiping Liu one in Press release,

The current study not only showed that highly processed foods are associated with an increased risk of dementia, it also showed that replacing these foods with healthier alternatives may reduce the risk of dementia, explains Dr. .

How much highly processed food was eaten?

In the study, participants in the group with the lowest intake of highly processed foods had an average of 225 grams per day what did you consume nine percent matches their diet.

In contrast, these foods did in the group with the highest intake of highly processed foods. 28 percent (average 814 grams daily diet.

Beverages are often highly processed

The team explains that the most important food group contributing to the high intake of highly processed foods was beverages, followed by sugary products and highly processed dairy products.

How many participants developed dementia?

With regard to dementia, it was found that those in the group with the lowest intake of highly processed foods 105 participants Sick. On the other hand, in the group with the highest intake, there were already 150 people,

Even after accounting for the various factors that influence the risk of dementia, the increased risk of 25 percent For each increase in daily consumption of highly processed foods ten percent Turns out, the team reports.

A healthy diet significantly reduces the risk of dementia

According to one estimate by the researchers, the replacement would only ten percent Consumption of highly processed foods with changes to previously unprocessed or minimally processed foods 19 percent Associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia.

The results showed that increasing the amount of unprocessed or minimally processed food to just 50 grams per day (such as half an apple) as well as reducing the amount of highly processed food by 50 grams per day (a candy bar), by an um of three percent. With a lower risk of dementia.

,It’s encouraging to learn that small and manageable dietary changes can make a difference in a person’s risk of dementia.“, emphasizes Dr. Lee,

High quality food can still be highly processed

However, it is sometimes difficult to classify complementary foods into unprocessed, minimally processed, processed, and highly processed. Dr. Maura E Walker from Boston University in an editorial on the study.

According to the expert, for example, foods like canned soups are classified differently than homemade ones. In addition, the degree of processing does not always correspond to the quality of the diet. For example, it is possible that plant-based burgers, which are classified as high quality, may still be highly processed.

to understand better complexity of food intake To develop, it should be borne in mind that there may be more quality review Nutrition Required, Dr. Walker (as)