Although 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 are questioning this claim.
Researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham found that consuming certain amounts daily processed red meat increased the risk of dementia by 13%, according to a press release.
It was also associated with a 14% higher risk of developing subjective cognitive decline and faster brain aging.
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“The findings didn’t really surprise us,” lead study author Yuhan Li, a researcher at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in Boston, told Fox News Digital.
Researchers from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham found that daily consumption of certain amounts of processed red meat increased the risk of dementia, but some doctors are unsure. (iStock)
“The results are generally consistent with our hypothesis, showing that higher intake of red meat, particularly processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and poorer cognition.”
The increased risk was seen in people who ate at least a quarter portion of unprocessed meat per day, according to the research article. This amounts to approximately 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 one serving of processed red meat per day with a serving of nuts and legumes could reduce the risk of dementia by 19% – and that replacing it with fish could reduce the risk by 28%.
The study included 133,771 individuals, of whom 11,173 were diagnosed with dementia over a four-decade period. The data came from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), which tracked participants’ dietary choices and health condition.
The increased risk was seen in people who ate at least a quarter of a serving of unprocessed meat per day, which amounts to about two slices of bacon, one hot dog or one and a half slices of bologna. (iStock)
The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published Jan. 15 in the journal Neurology.
The findings were first presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) earlier in 2024.
Experts respond to the findings
“There are many reasons to believe that too much red meat is linked to dementia,” Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, told Fox News Digital.
“In the case of processed meats like bacon and ham, the added chemicals can also lead to dementia via inflammation and neuroinflammation,” added Siegel, who was not involved in the new research.
The researchers suggested that replacing one serving of processed red meat per day with a serving of nuts and legumes could reduce the risk of dementia by 19%. (iStock)
The doctor also warned about red meat potentially leading to diabetes weight gain and obesitywhich can cause inflammation and in turn increase the risk of dementia.
“Red meat can also lead to heart disease, which increases the risk of dementia,” Siegel noted.
Theresa Gentile, a registered nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in New York, noted that previous research has found a link between red meat — especially processed red meat — and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes. cardiovascular diseaseboth of which are linked to reduced cognitive health.
“There is no single food or ingredient that has been shown to cause, increase the risk of, prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.”
“This was a large study conducted over a long period of time and adjusted for confounding factors. It still found that in three different groups, eating more processed red meat was associated with cognitive decline than eating less,” Gentile, which didn’t work. about the investigation, told Fox News Digital.
Some experts suggested the risk is more related to ultra-processed foods in general than to specific meats.
“The results are generally consistent with our hypothesis, showing that higher intake of red meat, especially processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and poorer cognition,” said one of the researchers ( not in the photo). (iStock)
Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., senior vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association of Chicago, pointed out that a number of studies have suggested that diets higher in ultra-processed foods are bad for brain health.
“For example, a report from the AAIC 2022 found that people who eat large amounts of ultra-processed foods have faster declines in cognition,” Snyder, who was not involved in the new study, told Fox News Digital.
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“More than 20% of daily ultra-processed food intake led to a 28% faster decline in global cognitive scores, including memory and verbal fluency.”
It is “unlikely” that one food will have a “significant beneficial or harmful effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s,” Snyder said.
“There is no food or ingredient that has been shown, through rigorous scientific research, to cause, increase the risk of, prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia,” she stated.
Possible study limitations
Siegel noted that the study was observational, meaning “no strict conclusions can be drawn.”
“We still need double-blind, randomized trials to draw more definitive conclusions,” he said.
It is ‘unlikely’ that one food will have a ‘significant beneficial or harmful effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s’, an expert has said. (iStock)
Lead study author Yuhan also acknowledged the potential limitations.
“The Nurses’ Health Study enrolled female nurses, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study enrolled male healthcare professionals from the US,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“These participants tend to have higher levels of education and income, and therefore the generalizability of the study may be limited. Additionally, residual confounding remains a possibility because this study is an observational study.”
Dr. Ken Berry, a general practitioner and diabetes specialist in Tennessee, was not involved in the study but shared his thoughts on “healthy user biases” that could potentially skew the results.
“The people who ate the least amount of processed meat and the least amount of red meat in these studies also exercised every day,” noted one doctor when speaking about the study. (iStock)
“The people who ate the least amount of processed meat and the least amount of red meat in these studies also exercised every day,” he said in a video on his YouTube channel last week.
“They definitely didn’t smoke. They didn’t drink excessively. They did their best to live a healthy life.”
“We still need double-blind, randomized trials to draw more definitive conclusions.”
Research has shown that exercising regularly and eating whole foods can reduce the risk of dementia, Berry noted.
“I don’t think any nutritionist would argue with that,” he said, but added that there is “no evidence whatsoever” that red meat is linked to a higher risk of dementia.
Tips for healthy eating
Gentile recommended limiting servings of processed red meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and deli meats, to less than a quarter serving per day, and to consider healthier protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, legumes and chicken.
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“A balanced diet in moderation in terms of protein sources and portion size is key,” Gentile said. “If your diet is high in processed red meat, try swapping one of those servings for beans, fish, or chicken.”
A registered dietitian recommended limiting portions of processed red meat and considering protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, legumes and chicken. (iStock)
The nutritionist also suggested including this brain-boosting foods every day, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.
The Alzheimer’s Association has long encouraged eating a balanced diet to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and all other forms of dementia, Snyder noted.
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“That includes foods that are less processed to ensure our bodies get the nutrients they need, as they are associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline,” she told Fox News Digital.
“As research continues, we may discover other dietary patterns that increase or decrease our risk.”
Berry pointed out that while he calls himself a “carnivore,” he is not completely “anti-plant.”
‘I’m in favor of one proper human nutritionthat ranges from low-carb with veggies and berries and nuts, to keto with a few berries and veggies and nuts, to ‘ketovore’ with just a bit of veggies for flavor and garnish, all the way up to carnivore,” he said in his video.
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The best diet for each individual should depend on multiple factors, he said, including their overall metabolic health, age, weight, genetics and gut microbiome.
Berry added, “That’s the right human nutritional spectrum.”
