# Ultra-processed food intake and cognitive decline in older adults

## TL;DR

This study found no link between ultra-processed food intake and cognitive decline in older Dutch adults over a 10-year period.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence on the overall dietary intake of ultra-processed foods and its lack of association with cognitive outcomes in older adults.

## Key findings

- Ultra-processed foods contributed 20.1% of total dietary intake on average.
- No associations were found between UPF intake and cognitive function or decline.
- Results were consistent across multiple cognitive domains and adjusted for confounders.

## Abstract

Global ultra-processed foods (UPFs) intake has increased. While several studies have linked the intake of specific UPF products to cognitive decline, fewer have investigated overall dietary UPF intake, with conflicting results.

To examine the association of overall UPF intake with cognitive function and 10-y decline among Dutch older adults (≥ 55 years).

Data from 1371 participants of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used.

Cognitive function was assessed four times between 2011/2012 and 2021/2022 using five tests covering global cognition (MMSE), information processing speed (Coding task), episodic memory (15-Word Test) and executive function (Word Fluency and Digit span). Dietary intake was measured in 2014/2015 with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Food items were classified as UPFs based on the NOVA classification. Total UPF intake was expressed as a percentage of total dietary intake in grams, and divided into quartiles (1.5– < 13.2%, 13.2– < 18.5%, 18.5– < 24.9% and 24.9–72.4%). Linear mixed models assessed associations between UPF intake quartiles and cognitive function and decline with age, while adjusting for potential confounders and testing for interaction with sex.

On average, UPFs contributed 20.1% of total dietary intake in grams per day. No associations were found between UPF intake and cognitive function or decline with age for any of the cognitive domains.

We found no evidence of an association between total UPF intake and cognitive function or decline with age in Dutch older adults.