A new study has found that eating more processed red meat may increase the risk of developing dementia. Conducted on over 133,000 participants, the research discovered that those who consumed the highest amount of processed red meat had a 13% greater risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate the least.
Experts say the findings make sense, as processed red meats are often high in fats, sodium, and sugars, which can have negative effects on brain health. The study suggests swapping one serving of processed red meat per day with nuts, legumes, or fish could reduce dementia risk by 19% to 28%.
The researchers found that swapping a serving of processed red meat for fish had the greatest impact, reducing the risk by 28%. Swapping it for chicken resulted in a 16% lower risk. Legumes and nuts also showed significant benefits.
While experts acknowledge the study’s findings, they emphasize that diet is only one part of the puzzle when it comes to dementia risk. Maintaining a Mediterranean diet with plenty of vegetables, fish, legumes, and nuts can help reduce the risk.
The Alzheimer’s Association notes that there isn’t a single food or ingredient that can prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease. Rather, research suggests a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle choices are key to maintaining cognitive health.
With dementia cases expected to double to 1 million new cases per year by 2060 in the US, researchers stress the importance of making informed dietary choices to reduce the risk.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/red-meat-may-raise-dementia-risk