Those who regularly consume processed red meat, such as hot dogs, bacon, sausages, and salami, are at greater risk develop dementia later in life.
That was the conclusion of preliminary research presented this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference.
The research involved more than 130.000 adults in the United States for up to 43 years. During this period, 11.173 people developed dementia. Those who ate about two servings of processed red meat a week had a 14% greater risk of developing dementia compared to those who ate less than three servings a month.
Eating unprocessed red meat, such as pork or beef steak, did not significantly increase the risk of dementia, though those who chose steaks daily were more likely to report feeling their memory was impaired than those who ate red meat less often.
The results of the study have not yet been published in a scientific journal.
In recent years they have several studies have been published who have found a correlation between highly processed foods and cognitive decline. The research cites a study of more than 10.000 middle-aged adults in Brazil found that "people who consumed 20 percent or more of their daily calories from highly processed foods experienced faster cognitive decline, particularly on tests of executive function, compared during eight years".
