Scientists who conducted a comprehensive investigation discovered that eating a burger and fries or two sausages per day may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s.
The cognitive deterioration of those who consumed a quarter of their calories from processed meals, such as soft drinks and chicken nuggets, was 28% larger than that of those who consumed fewer calories from processed foods.
They urged individuals to prepare more of their meals and increase their consumption of whole grains, veggies, and seafood. According to surveys, approximately 58 percent of the average American diet consists of processed foods, whereas the Canadian average is 48 percent.
Inflammation caused by the high sugar, salt, and fat content of processed foods accelerated cognitive deterioration, according to specialists. They stated that this was a clear indication that individuals should cook at home more often.
In the study, which was presented today at the 2022 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego, California, researchers tracked 10,000 individuals from 2008 to 2019.
They were evenly divided by gender, had an average age of 51, and lived in six Brazilian cities.
Each received approximately 785 calories per day, or 27% of their daily caloric intake, from processed meals. Three-quarters consumed more than twenty percent of their calories from processed foods, with some consuming as much as three-quarters.
Processed foods are defined as “industrial formulations” of food ingredients (oils, fats, sugars, starch, and protein isolates) that generally incorporate flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers, and other cosmetic additions. This comprises, among others, fries, hamburgers, ice creams, candies, and soft beverages.
Each participant completed a dietary intake questionnaire at the beginning and end of the trial.
In addition, they completed delayed word recall, word recognition, and verbal fluency tests to assess cognitive changes.
Those who consumed the most processed food, more than a quarter of their daily calories, had a rate of cognitive loss that was 28 percent higher than those who consumed the least.
They also had a 25 percent quicker rate of decrease in executive function, the region of the brain responsible for making decisions and processing information.
Those who consumed the most ultra-processed foods were more likely to be young, female, Caucasian, have a higher degree of education, and never have smoked.
Dr. Natalia Goncalves, a pathologist from the University of Sao Paulo who led the study, told that processed foods likely accelerated cognitive deterioration due to their high sugar, fat, and sodium content.
She stated that this could lead to ‘inflammatory processes’ or lesions in the brain, hence accelerating the rate of decline.
Dr. Rudy Tanzi, a neurosurgeon at Harvard Medical School who was not involved in the study, opined that processed foods posed a concern because they are “often quite heavy in sugar, salt, and fat.”
All of them, she told CNN, increase systemic inflammation, which is “perhaps the greatest hazard to good aging in the body and brain.”
Men should consume an average of 2,500 calories per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while women should consume 2,000.
This would require up to 500 calories per day to accomplish a 25 percent intake of processed foods.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this is similar to one cheeseburger and fries (about 700 calories) or two four-pound sausages (around 800 calories).
Dr. Claudia Suemoto, a geriatric expert who also participated in the study, stated that the Brazilian diet was not notably different from that of western nations.
She continued, “People should cook more and produce their food from scratch.” We indeed say we don’t have time, but it doesn’t take that much time.
And it is worthwhile since you will protect your heart and brain from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This is the takeaway message: ‘Stop purchasing highly processed products.’
What foods should I eat to prevent Alzheimer’s?
Numerous studies indicate that a person’s diet may affect their chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the National Institute on Aging, some diets, such as those high in processed foods, may increase the risk of contracting the disease.
However, others may have a protective impact. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish while being low in red meat and eggs, is highlighted by researchers as a crucial method for reducing risk.
According to the NIH, there is currently no established evidence that consuming more of a particular meal can prevent against Alzheimer’s.
Several studies, however, have studied the possibility that particular foods, such as blueberries, strawberries, and leafy greens, give protection against the disease.
These foods were chosen for their anti-inflammatory qualities, which are believed to minimise the likelihood of harmful proteins accumulating.
One recent study revealed that consuming a daily amount of spinach or kale reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
A second study indicated that persons who consumed fish on a daily basis had superior cognitive performance in old age.
