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Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease: The Framingham Heart Study
Galit Weinstein, Daniel J. Kojis, Ayantika Banerjee, Sudha S. Seshadri, Maura E. Walker, Alexa S. Beiser. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease, 2025-01-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The study sample included 1,375 participants free of dementia and stroke at baseline (mean age 68 ± 6y, 54 % females). During a mean follow-up of 12.7 ± 6.0 years, 224 and 172 individuals were diagnosed with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease, respectively. An interaction of ultra-processed food consumption with age was observed with regard to dementia and Alzheimer's disease (p for interaction = 0.02 and 0.007, respectively). Therefore, all analyses were stratified by the median age of 68 years. Among participants who were <68 years of age at baseline, each serving per day of ultra-processed food was associated with 13 % increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (HR = 1.13, 95 % CI:1.03-1.25), and consumption of ≥10 servings/day vs. <10 servings/day of ultra-processed food was associated with a 2.7-fold increase in Alzheimer's disease risk (HR = 2.71, 95 % CI:1.18-6.24), after adjustment for age, sex, education, total energy, metabolic factors and diet quality. The associations with all-cause dementia were less robust, and no significant findings were observed when age at baseline was 68 years or above. Our findings suggest that consumption of ultra-processed food in middle-age may be linked with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. Future clinical studies are warranted to assess whether reduction of ultra-processed food consumption improves brain health.
Key findings
- The study sample included 1,375 participants free of dementia and stroke at baseline (mean age 68 ± 6y, 54 % females).
- During a mean follow-up of 12.7 ± 6.0 years, 224 and 172 individuals were diagnosed with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease, respectively.
- An interaction of ultra-processed food consumption with age was observed with regard to dementia and Alzheimer's disease (p for interaction = 0.02 and 0.007, respectively).
- Therefore, all analyses were stratified by the median age of 68 years.
- Among participants who were <68 years of age at baseline, each serving per day of ultra-processed food was associated with 13 % increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (HR = 1.13, 95 % CI:1.03-1.25), and consumption of ≥10 servings/day vs. <10 servings/day of ultra-processed food was associated with a 2.7-fold increase in Alzheimer's disease risk (HR = 2.71, 95 % CI:1.18-6.24), after adjustment for age, sex, education, total energy, metabolic factors and diet quality.
Why it matters
In this cohort, eating more ultra-processed food was linked to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease in people under 68, but no significant link was found in those 68 or older. The authors say future clinical studies are needed to test whether cutting ultra-processed food actually improves brain health.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants1,375
- Effect sizeHR = 1.13; HR = 2.71
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 63 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,375 participants |
| Effect reported | 3 / 3 | Effect reported with a statistic (interval, p-value, ratio or similar) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 22 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 22 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Alexa S. Beiser: h-index 132 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Boston University: institution h-index 1,456 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39863327) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042
- PubMed: 39863327
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Weinstein, G., Kojis, D. J., Banerjee, A., Seshadri, S. S., Walker, M. E., & Beiser, A. S. (2025). Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease: The Framingham Heart Study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042
Vancouver
Weinstein G, Kojis DJ, Banerjee A, Seshadri SS, Walker ME, Beiser AS. Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease: The Framingham Heart Study. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042. PMID: 39863327.
BibTeX
@article{weinstein2025-39863327,
author = {Weinstein, Galit and Kojis, Daniel J. and Banerjee, Ayantika and Seshadri, Sudha S. and Walker, Maura E. and Beiser, Alexa S.},
title = {{Ultra-processed food consumption and risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease: The Framingham Heart Study}},
journal = {The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer s Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042},
pmid = {39863327},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042}
}
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