Canadian Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Hidden Vascular Changes in the Brain
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Canadian researchers have identified an association between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and subtle vascular abnormalities in the brain that may develop without noticeable symptoms. The study, led by McMaster University researchers and published in JAMA Network Open on October 15, examined 8,783 adults aged 35 to 69.
Brain MRI scans revealed signs of vascular injury in 11.3% of participants with the highest ultra-processed food consumption, compared with 8.1% of those consuming the least. After adjustments for demographic, lifestyle and health factors, the highest-consumption group had 40% greater statistical odds of these findings. The figure represents an adjusted association, not a 40-percentage-point increase in individual risk.
The abnormalities included covert brain infarcts and changes in white matter associated with small blood vessel disease. Although such findings can be linked to future stroke and cognitive difficulties, the researchers found no significant relationship between ultra-processed food consumption and performance on the memory and cognitive assessments used in the study.
Researchers evaluated dietary questionnaires alongside MRI scans and body composition measurements. Participants with the highest intake also had greater overall body fat and visceral fat, which accumulates around internal organs and is associated with cardiometabolic health risks.
Examples of ultra-processed foods include packaged snacks, sugary breakfast cereals, soft drinks, instant noodles and ready-made frozen meals. The research also found that people consuming more of these products generally ate fewer minimally processed foods, including fruits and vegetables.
The findings do not establish that ultra-processed foods directly cause brain injury. Because the research assessed participants at a single point in time, it could not determine whether dietary patterns preceded the abnormalities. Results also varied according to how food consumption was measured, highlighting the need for longer-term studies to investigate whether dietary changes could influence vascular brain health.
