January 16, 2025 07:36 PM IST
Red meat impairs brain health, causing brain age to accelerate by 1.6 years.
Dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by brain deterioration are often seen with age. To reduce the risk from this, people often pay attention to what to eat and what not to eat because prevention is always better than cure. Neurodegenerative diseases affect cognitive skills such as thinking, memory, and decision making, gradually impairing a person’s ability to perform daily tasks. Sometimes dementia patients are unable to even recognize their loved ones. Many people turn to dietary changes in hopes of reducing the risk of cognitive decline and improving brain health.
A study published in Neurology showed that red meat, especially processed meat, further increases the risk of dementia and cognitive decline.
Also read: Iron accumulation in your brain may increase your risk of dementia! This diet can help
Red meat harms brain health
Red meat is already considered unhealthy, causing heart disease and diabetes. The findings of this study further enhance its shortcomings. Red meat, especially processed forms like bacon, sausage and hot dogs, contribute to dementia risk. The study tracked 133,771 participants and found that people who consumed the most red meat were more likely to develop dementia.
The study further found that people who ate small amounts of processed red meat per day, such as two slices of bacon, one and a half slices of bologna, or one hot dog, had a 13% higher risk of developing dementia than those who did not. Who ate very little processed meat. The brains of people who eat red meat every day age 1.6 years faster. The cognitive performance of those who ate red meat was slower than that of those who did not.
replace with what
There is no doubt that diet has a clear link to cognitive decline. Red meat is one of the red flags for brain health. The researchers suggested better protein options like nuts and legumes or fish in place of red meat. This reduces the risk by about 20%.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
Also read: Study: Regular fish consumption may protect against dementia, Alzheimer’s
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