Research links ultra-processed foods to faster cognitive decline. One study found that people who ate the most ultra-processed food had a 28-percent faster decline in global cognitive scores. The main culprits are processed, fried, and fast food; processed desserts, sweets, and sugary drinks; refined grains like white bread and white rice; and red meat — each linked to brain health through conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, inflammation, and high cholesterol.
