SynthesisJournal of neurology2024
High intake of ultra-processed food is associated with dementia in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.
Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
38 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Association of combined ultra-processed food intake (ultra-processed dietary pattern) with cognitive function impairment: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.Journal of neurology · 2026Pooled it
- Ultraprocessed Food Intake, Cognition, and Executive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review.Nutrients · 2026Pooled it
- Plant-Based Diets and Cognitive Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2025Pooled it
- Ultra-processed foods consumption and health-related outcomes: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in nutrition · 2024Pooled it
- Consumption of ultra-processed foods and risk for Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review.Frontiers in nutrition · 2023Pooled it
- The risk associated with ultra-processed food intake on depressive symptoms and mental health in older adults: a target trial emulation.BMC medicine · 2025Trial
- Toward AI-Assisted Methodological Evaluations of Health Risk Analyses Using Diverse Types of Evidence.Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis · 2026Article
- [Dementia with Lewy bodies].Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie · 2026Review
- [Modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia: an overview of established and emerging evidence].Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2026Review
- Ultraprocessed Foods and the Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Older US Adults: 2013-2020 Health and Retirement Study.American journal of public health · 2026Article
- Article
- Ultra-Processed Foods, MASLD, and Cognitive Aging: A Processing-Centered Gut-Liver-Brain Axis Perspective.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Response: Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Obesity: A Narrative Review of Their Association and Potential Mechanisms (J Obes Metab Syndr 2025;34:27-40).Journal of obesity & metabolic syndrome · 2026Article
- Reproducibility and Validity of a Nova-Based Food Frequency Questionnaire in Older Italian Adults: The NFFQ-Elderly.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Can Nutrition Modulate the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease? A Narrative Review.Current nutrition reports · 2026Review
- A metabolite index of ultra-processed food intake is associated with stroke, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Consumption of processed foods impairs memory function through dietary advanced glycation end-products.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- We Need a Full Tank of High-Test Resilience.Oncology nursing forum · 2026Article
- Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with cognitive status in elderly patients.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Does the definition of human ultra-processed foods apply to dog and cat foods? A review of pet food processing techniques, their impact on health, and a call for pet food processing classification.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsPoor cardiometabolic health is associated with dementia. Considering previous meta-analyses have confirmed associations between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and cardiometabolic disease, we were interested in the contribution of UPF consumption to the risk of developing dementia.
methodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all records registered on Ovid Medline and Web of Science from inception until December 2022 [PROSPERO (CRD42023388363)]. Studies that assessed UPF consumption in adults, determined according to NOVA, and that reported dementia (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and mild cognitive impairment) determined by clearly stated diagnostic criteria (including formal assessment of dementia or use of diagnostic codes) were included. The association between UPF consumption and dementia was assessed using random-effects meta-analysis, controlling for confounding variables. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale and evidence credibility evaluated using the NutriGrade system.
resultsSeven thousand ten records were screened, and 122 records underwent full text review. From these, 10 observational (8 longitudinal) studies, analysing 867,316 individuals, were included. Included studies adjusted for age, socioeconomic status and co-morbidity, alongside other confounders. High (vs. low) intake of UPF was associated with increased risk of dementia (pooled relative risk 1.44 (95% confidence interval 1.09-1.90) (p = 0.02)) (I
conclusionHigh UPF consumption is associated with dementia. Public health measures to reduce overconsumption of UPFs are imperative to reduce the burden of dementia.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.