You May Be Eating Healthy, but Your Brain Is at Risk

A new study conducted in Australia has revealed that ultra-processed foods may harm not only physical health but also brain function. Researchers examined the relationship between the eating habits of 2,192 healthy adults aged 40–70 and their attention, memory, and dementia risk.

According to the results, every 10% increase in ultra-processed food consumption was associated with a significant decline in attention and concentration performance. A marked increase in dementia risk scores was also observed.

Notably, this association persisted even in people who followed a healthy Mediterranean-style eating pattern. The researchers emphasize that the problem may stem not only from poor nutritional content but also from the way the food is processed.

It is thought that ultra-processed products disrupt the natural structure of food and may place an additional burden on cognitive health because of additives, shelf-life-extending treatments, and industrial production processes.

In conclusion, ultra-processed products such as chips, candy, ready-made meals, and soft drinks can weaken the brain's capacity for attention, even within an eating pattern that appears healthy. Therefore, in protecting cognitive health, not only "what we eat" but also "how the food is produced" is critically important.

Source: Cardoso BR, et al. "Ultra-processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: a cross-sectional study of middle-aged and older Australian adults." Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70335. Reported in MedPage Today by Judy George, May 1, 2026.