Inflammatory Foods May Increase Risk of Dementia, Study Warns

Consuming foods high in saturated fat, carbohydrates and cholesterol increases a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease by 84%, according to a new study.

In findings published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia last month, researchers from Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases in Texas indicate that the more inflammatory foods were consumed, the higher the risk of dementia, in what appears to be a dose-response relationship.

Dementia is a group of diseases that affect a person’s memory, mood, behavior, reasoning and personality. It includes Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions that interfere with daily activities.

Some estimates indicate roughly 50% of people over the age of 85 have dementia. Symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease include difficulty concentrating, problems with decision-making, confusion, anxiety and irritability.

Prior research has linked inflammatory foods such as sugar, alcohol, processed foods, high-carb foods and foods high in saturated fat to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this study was designed to explore that relationship further.

The research team, led by Mini E. Jacob and Jayandra J. Himali, evaluated the diets of 1,487 participants using Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores. Participants completed food frequency questionnaires, with a total of 264 participants developing dementia over an average follow-up of 13 years.

While, on average, most participants in the study consumed anti-inflammatory foods, those consuming inflammatory foods were linked with an increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. For every one-point increase in the DII score, the risk of dementia increased by 21%, and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease increased by 20%.

When comparing participants with an anti-inflammatory diet to those who ate more inflammatory foods, those with the most inflammatory diets were 84% more likely to develop dementia, the researchers concluded.

Researchers said the most inflammatory components of a participant’s diet were trans and saturated fat and high-calorie intake, which are all major aspects of the American diet, which may put more people at risk of developing dementia. However, researchers also said the data suggests eating an anti-inflammatory diet may help prevent late-life dementia.

“Higher DII scores were associated with a higher risk of incident all-cause dementia and AD (Alzheimer’s disease),” the researchers determined. “Although these promising findings need to be replicated and further validated, our results suggest that diets that correlate with low DII scores may prevent late-life dementia.”

Ultra-Processed Food Side Effects

Several studies in recent years have linked inflammatory and ultra-processed foods to a variety of serious and long-term health side effects.

A study published in March 2024 by a team of international researchers highlights a strong link between consuming ultraprocessed foods and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, along with other side effects like sleep disturbances, breathing issues and depression.

Another study published that same month showed a link between ultraprocessed foods and potentially fatal heart problems, including heart attacks and heart failure.