Sausages, salami and other cooked meats may increase risk of dementia – experts reveal

Do you like a healthy salami sandwich or sausage for breakfast? We understand that these cooked meats and deli meats taste delicious, but you might just consider cutting back on processed meats, as a new study links these foods to declining cognitive health. Researchers at the University of Leeds recently found that consuming 25g of processed meat per day was associated with a 44% increased risk of dementia. Conversely, dementia is a condition in the functioning of our brain that leads to forgetting, impaired thinking and communication. The study indicates that this health condition affects 5-8% of the world’s population aged 60 or over. The results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

This was a large-scale study with almost 50 lakh participants, aged 40 to 69. The researchers analyzed a database containing in-depth genetic and health information about the participants. They also looked at the association between different types of meat and their effects on our brain function, especially dementia.

According to their findings, while processed meat carries an increased risk of dementia, unprocessed meats (pork, lamb et al) could be protective. “People who consumed 50g per day were 19% less likely to develop dementia,” the study found.

However, according to lead researcher Huifeng Zhang, a doctoral student from LeedsSchool of Food Science and Nutrition, “Further confirmation is needed, but the direction of effect relates to current healthy eating guidelines suggesting that lower intakes of unprocessed red meat may be beneficial for health. . “