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Ultra‐processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: A cross‐sectional study of middle‐aged and older Australian adults
Bárbara Rita Cardoso, Eurídice Martínez Steele, Barbara Vitorino Alencar Brayner, Xinyi Yuan, Lisa Bransby, Hannah Cummins, Yen Ying Lim, Priscila Pereira Machado. Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 2026-04-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Each 10% increase in UPF intake was associated with lower attention scores (-0.05 points) and higher dementia risk (+0.24 points), independent of Mediterranean diet adherence. Higher UPF consumption is associated with poorer attention and increased modifiable dementia risk, independent of overall diet quality.
Key findings
- Each 10% increase in UPF intake was associated with lower attention scores (-0.05 points) and higher dementia risk (+0.24 points), independent of Mediterranean diet adherence.
- Higher UPF consumption is associated with poorer attention and increased modifiable dementia risk, independent of overall diet quality.
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study found that each 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake was associated with lower attention scores and higher dementia risk scores. It shows associations only and cannot prove that reducing ultra-processed food prevents dementia.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring: journal h-index 86 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Priscila Pereira Machado: h-index 31 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Monash University: institution h-index 1,146 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42040885) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70335
- PubMed: 42040885
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring →
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. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Cardoso, B. R., Steele, E. M., Brayner, B. V. A., Yuan, X., Bransby, L., Cummins, H., et al. (2026). Ultra‐processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: A cross‐sectional study of middle‐aged and older Australian adults. Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70335
Vancouver
Cardoso BR, Steele EM, Brayner BVA, Yuan X, Bransby L, Cummins H, et al. Ultra‐processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: A cross‐sectional study of middle‐aged and older Australian adults. Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2026. doi:10.1002/dad2.70335. PMID: 42040885.
BibTeX
@article{cardoso2026-42040885,
author = {Cardoso, Bárbara Rita and Steele, Eurídice Martínez and Brayner, Barbara Vitorino Alencar and Yuan, Xinyi and Bransby, Lisa and Cummins, Hannah and Lim, Yen Ying and Machado, Priscila Pereira},
title = {{Ultra‐processed food intake, cognitive function, and dementia risk: A cross‐sectional study of middle‐aged and older Australian adults}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia Diagnosis Assessment \& Disease Monitoring},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/dad2.70335},
pmid = {42040885},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70335}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.