Red meat may increase dementia risk, researchers say: 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 are casting doubt on that claim.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health TH Chan and Mass General Brigham found that daily consumption of certain amounts of 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.

“The results are generally consistent with our hypothesis, showing that a higher consumption of red meat, particularly processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and poorer cognitive abilities.”

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

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The researchers also suggested that replacing a portion of processed red meat a day with a portion 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, 11,173 of whom received a diagnosis of 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.

Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study 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 react to the findings

“There’s a lot of reason to believe that too much red meat is linked to dementia,” told Fox News Digital Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst.

“In the case of processed meats like bacon and bacon, the added chemicals can also lead to dementia through inflammation and neuroinflammation,” added Siegel, who was not involved in the new research.

The doctor also warned about red meat that can lead to 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 dietitian and spokeswoman for the New York Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, noted that previous research has found a link between red meat — especially processed red meat — and an increased risk of diabetes. type 2 and cardiovascular diseaseboth of which are associated with impaired 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 or other dementias.”

“This was a large study conducted over a long period of time and adjusted for confounding factors and still found that, in three different groups, eating more processed red meat was associated with cognitive decline than eating less,” Gentile, who was not working. about the study, told Fox News Digital.

Some experts have suggested that the risk is more related to ultra-processed foods in general than to specific meats.

Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., senior vice president of medical and scientific affairs at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, noted that a number of studies have suggested that diets with more processed foods are bad for brain health.

“For example, a report at AAIC 2022 found that people who eat large amounts of ultra-processed foods 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 ultra-processed foods led to a 28% faster decline in global cognitive scores, including memory and verbal fluency.”

It is unlikely that one food would have a “significant beneficial or harmful effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s,” according to Snyder.

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

Potential limitations of the study

Siegel noted that the study was observational, meaning “no firm conclusions can be drawn.”

“We still need double-blind, randomized trials to draw more definite conclusions,” he said.

Lead study author Yuhan also acknowledged potential limitations.

“The Nurses’ Health Study enrolled female registered nurses and the Continuing Health Professionals Study enrolled male health professionals in 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, because this study is an observational study, residual confounding remains a possibility.”

Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician and diabetes specialist in Tennessee, was not involved in the study, but shared his thoughts on “healthy user bias” that could bias the results.

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

“They absolutely didn’t smoke. They didn’t drink much. They were trying their best to live a healthy life.”

“We still need double-blind, randomized trials to draw clearer conclusions.”

Research has shown that exercising regularly and eating whole, unprocessed foods can reduce the risk of dementia, Berry noted.

“I don’t think any nutrition expert would argue with that,” he said, but added that there is “no evidence” that red meat is linked to a higher risk of dementia.

Healthy diet tips

Gentile recommended limiting portions of processed red meat such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and deli meats to less than a quarter of a serving per day and 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 serving size is essential,” Gentile said. “If your diet is heavy on processed red meat, try swapping one of those servings for beans, fish or chicken.”

The nutritionist also suggested inclusion foods that stimulate the brain 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 types of dementia, Snyder noted.

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“This includes foods that are less processed to ensure our bodies get the nutrients they need, because they have been 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 noted that while he’s a self-described “carnivore,” he’s not completely “anti-plant.”

“I am a supporter of one The proper human dietwhich ranges from low-carb with vegetables and berries and nuts, to those with little berries and vegetables and nuts, to ‘ketovores’ with just a few vegetables for flavor and garnish, to carnivores,” he said in his message. video.

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

Added Berry, “This is the right spectrum of the human diet.”