"Processed meat increases the risk of dementia"... Instead, avoid eating 'this food' for peace of mind

Processed meat typically refers to processed red meat. Ham, bacon, and sausages are representative examples of processed red meat. However, new research has shown that consuming a lot of such processed meats increases the risk of developing dementia.

According to the research team at the Brigham and Women's Hospital network affiliated with Harvard University in the United States, people who consume two servings of processed meat per week have a 14% higher risk of dementia compared to those who consume less than three servings per month.

The research team analyzed data from over 130,000 participants spanning more than 43 years in the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which are long-term studies on nurse health and health professional follow-up. The team specifically investigated the relationship between red meat consumption and dementia.

The research team surveyed how often and how much the participants ate various foods, including processed meats, every 2 to 4 years through questionnaires. One serving of foods in the processed meat category was defined as bacon (2 slices), hot dog (1 piece), or sausage (56g or 2 pieces), and salami, bologna, or other processed meat sandwiches were also included in this category.

 

Additionally, the research team defined the standard serving sizes for other food categories as follows: peanut butter (1 tablespoon), nuts such as peanuts and walnuts (28g), soy milk (about 230ml), and legumes such as soybeans, lentils, peas, or lima beans (half a cup). They also investigated the intake of nuts and legumes, including tofu or soy protein.

 

Processed meat increases the risk of dementia and accelerates cognitive aging

 

During the research period, 11,173 cases of dementia occurred. The study results showed that people who consume more than a quarter of a daily serving of processed meat have a 14% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those who eat less than one-tenth daily.

The research team also investigated cognitive aging in over 17,500 participants. As a result, it was found that adding processed meat to daily intake was associated with an additional 1.6 years of overall cognitive decline, including language, executive function, and mental processing.

However, there was a dietary change that could help prevent this cognitive decline. It was when processed meats were replaced with nuts and legumes.

 

 

 

Replacing with nuts and legumes reduces risk

 

According to this study, consuming nuts or legumes instead of processed meat was associated with a 20% lower risk of developing dementia and a reduction of 1.37 years in overall cognitive aging. However, since this study was designed to identify associations, it could not prove causality.

Researcher Yoo Hanli, who led this study, said, "Because previous research results have been inconsistent regarding the relationship between cognitive decline and overall meat consumption, we examined in detail how different intake levels of processed and unprocessed meats affect cognitive risk and function." She added, "As a result of studying people over a long period, we found that consuming processed red meat could be a significant risk factor for dementia."

 

 

 

Kwon Soon-il Reporter