Red meat may raise dementia risk, researchers claim: Experts react

While red meat is a rich source of protein, iron and other nutrients, a recent study linked it to an increased risk of dementia – but some doctors doubt the claim.

Researchers from Harvard Public Health and Mass. General Brigham found that the daily consumption of Mass. General Brigham processed red meats According to a press release, the risk of dementia increased by 13%.

There is also a 14% higher risk of developing subjective cognitive decline and faster brain aging.

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Yuxan Li, a researcher at the Harvard Th Chan School of Public Health in Boston, told Fox News Digital.

Researchers from Harvard Public Health and Mass. General Brigham’s daily consumption of processed red meat increased the risk of dementia, but some doctors doubt. (Stock)

“The results are generally consistent with our hypothesis that a higher intake of red meat, particularly processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of dementia and worse cognitive development.”

An increased risk was seen in people who ate at least one quarter of unprocessed meat per day, according to the research article. That’s the equivalent of around one hot dog, two slices of bacon, or one and a half slices of bologna.

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The researchers also suggested that replacing a serving of processed red meat a day with a serving of nuts and legumes could reduce the risk by 19%, and switching fish could reduce the risk by 28%.

Of the 133,771 people in the study, 11,173 of the 11,173 received a diagnosis of dementia over four decades. Data were collected from the Nurses’ Health Survey (NHS) and health professionals (HPFs) monitoring participants’ dietary choices. Health status.

At least a quarter of a quarter, about a quarter of unprocessed meats a day, one hot dog, one hot dog, or one and a half slices or one and a half slices. (Stock)

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the work was published on January 15 in the journal Neurology.

The findings were first presented at the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC).

Experts react to the findings

“There are many reasons to believe that too much red meat is associated with dementia,” Dr. Marc Siegel, a medical analyst at New Langone Medicine and Fox News.

“In the case of processed meats like pork and ham, chemicals can also cause dementia through inflammation and neuroinflammation,” added Siegel, who was not involved in the new study.

Replacing a serving of processed red meat a day with a serving of nuts and legumes can reduce the risk of dementia by 19%, researchers found. (Stock)

The doctor also warned about potential lead red meat Weight and obesitywhich can cause inflammation and in turn increase the risk of dementia.

“Red meat can also cause heart disease, which increases the risk of dementia,” Siegel said.

A registered dietitian nutritionist and press secretary for the New York Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, noted that previous studies have found an association between red meat — particularly processed red meat — and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseasesboth are associated with impaired cognitive health.

“No single food or ingredient … has been shown to increase the risk of, prevent, treat Alzheimer’s or other dementias.”

“It was a large study done over a long period of time and adjusted for confounding factors, and still in three different groups, eating more processed red meat, the nation that didn’t work,” it didn’t work in the study, Fox News said.

Some experts have suggested that the risk is linked more to ultraprocessed foods than to specific meats.

“The results are generally consistent with our hypothesis that a higher intake of red meat, particularly processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of dementia and poorer cognition,” said one of the researchers (not pictured). (Stock)

Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., senior vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, said several studies have suggested that diets high in ultraprocessed foods are bad for brain health.

“For example, a report at AAIC 2022 found that people who eat a lot of ultraprocessed food have a faster decline in cognition,” Snyder, who was not involved in the new study, told Fox News Digital.

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“More than 20% of daily intake of ultraprocessed foods caused a 28% faster decline in global cognitive scores, including memory and verbal fluency.”

According to Snyder, it is “impossible” that a single food can have a significant beneficial or harmful effect on a complex disease like Alzheimer’s.

“There is no single food or ingredient that has been shown, through rigorous scientific research, to increase the risk, prevent, treat, or treat Alzheimer’s or other dementias,” he said.

Potential study limitations

Siegel noted that the case is observational, which means “no serious conclusion can be drawn.”

“We still need double-blind, randomized trials to draw a more definitive conclusion,” he said.

It is “unlikely” that a food would “have a significant beneficial or detrimental effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s.” (Stock)

Yuhan, the lead study author, also acknowledged potential limitations.

“In the ‘nurses’ health work, female registered nurses and health professionals followed the research we had registered medical professionals opposite,” said Fox News Digital.

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“These participants tended to have higher levels of education and income, and therefore the generalizability of the study may be limited. Additionally, this is an observational study, residual confounding remains a possibility.”

Dr. Ken Berry, family physician and Diabetes specialist In Tennessee, he did not participate in the study, but shared his thoughts on “healthy user bias.”

“In these studies, the people who ate the least amount of processed meat and the least amount of red meat – they also exercised every day,” noted one doctor when talking about the study. (Stock)

“The people who ate the least amount of processed meat and the least amount of red meat in these studies — they also exercised every day,” he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel last week.

“They didn’t smoke at all. They didn’t drink anymore. They were trying their best to live a healthy life.”

“We still need double-blind, randomized trials to draw a more definitive conclusion.”

Research shows that eating whole, unprocessed whole foods regularly can reduce the risk of dementia.

“I don’t think any nutritionist would argue with that,” he said, but “there’s no evidence” that red meat is associated with a higher risk of diabetes.

Tips for a healthy diet

Considering that processed red meats like bacon, sausages, hot dogs and deli meats are enviable and less than a quarter of a serving a day and considering Healthy protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, legumes and chicken.

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“A balanced diet that’s moderate in terms of protein sources and serving size is key,” she says. “If your diet is heavy on processed red meats, try swapping one of those servings for beans, fish or chicken.”

A registered dietitian recommends limiting processed red meats and considering protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, beans and chicken. (Stock)

Nutritionist suggested including Brain boosting foods Like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats every day.

The Alzheimer’s Association has long encouraged eating a balanced diet to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and all other types of dementia.

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“This includes less processed foods to ensure our bodies get the nutrients they need because they are associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline,” Fox News Digital.

“As research continues, we may uncover other dietary patterns that increase or decrease our risk.”

Although Berry is a self-described “carnivore,” he’s not exactly “anti-plant.”

“I am a supporter proper human dietIt ranges from low-carb with vegetables and berries and nuts, to keto with a few berries and nuts, with ‘Ketovore’, to ‘Ketovore’ with ‘Ketovore’ for flavor and side dishes,” he said in the video. .

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The best diet for any individual should depend on many factors, including overall metabolic health, age, weight, genetics, and gut microbiome.

Extra berries, “it’s the right human dietary spectrum.”