2024-08-01 12:07:38
A new study finds that red processed meats such as bacon, sausage and ham increase the risk of dementia.
This study, announced at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2024) held in Philadelphia, USA on the 31st (local time), is the result of a 40-year follow-up observation of more than 130,000 adults. The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, investigated the link between diet and cognitive function.
“This is one of the strongest studies linking processed meat consumption to dementia because it followed people for decades,” Dr. Mario Carrillo, chief science officer for the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a statement, NBC News.
A study that followed people for 43 years found that people who ate about 28 grams of processed red meat a day (similar to eating 85 grams twice a week) had a 14 percent higher risk of dementia compared to those who ate less than three times a month. Additionally, each additional serving of processed red meat per day was associated with an additional 1.6 years of cognitive aging, which affects language and executive function.
But the study isn’t all bad news. The study found that replacing red processed meat with nuts or legumes once a day reduced the risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent.
“This study is consistent with the larger body of scientific knowledge that a diet low in fat and sugar and high in vegetables is good for overall brain health,” said Dr. Heather Snyder, vice president for medical and scientific affairs at the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Processed red meat has also been shown to increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes,” said first author Yu Han-Lee, a research scientist at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. “It may affect the brain because it contains high levels of harmful substances like nitrites and sodium, which are preservatives.”
Unprocessed red meat, such as ground beef or steak, was not associated with the same cognitive harm, Dr. Carrillo said. “When unprocessed and consumed in moderation, red meat is actually fine,” she explained.
Dr. Uma Naidoo of Massachusetts General Hospital noted that because it was an observational study, it did not clearly show a cause-and-effect relationship between processed red meat consumption and dementia. Still, she said the study is significant because it points toward reducing processed red meat consumption to improve brain health.
Dr. Naidoo emphasized that we should eat fresh foods as much as possible instead of red processed meats. “The less processed the better. Eating vegetables and fruits provides dietary fiber, nutrients, minerals and vitamins to the body and brain.”
Dr. Ian Koo, a professor at Columbia University Medical Center, points out that a healthy diet is only part of an overall healthy lifestyle for dementia prevention.
“In addition to eating fresh, healthy foods, you also need enough sleep, exercise, social contact, and leisure activities. All of these factors work together to create better health,” Dr. Koo said.
Reporter Park Hae-sik, Donga.com [email protected]
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2024-08-01 12:07:38