Yahoo Lifestyle Eating This One High-Protein Food Could Raise Your Dementia Risk By 13%
When we think of things that increase dementia risk, brain-related topics probably come to mind first. For example, not engaging your mind with brain games or logic puzzles.
But as with any condition, research says many factors play a role in dementia risk, including the food we eat. According to a recent study, one of those foods is protein-rich, delicious and found in many dishes, unfortunately.
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A Recent Study’s Findings on a Food That Increases Dementia Risk
The food in question is red meat, especially processed red meat. Yep, we’re talking about your bacon, hot dogs, sausages and salami. According to the study, published in Neurology, processed red meats can raise your dementia risk by 13 percent.
In the grand scheme of things, that number isn't huge. But it is noteworthy.
A little background on this research: So far, it’s the longest-running study on the effects of diet and cognition. Tracking 133,771 health professionals for about 40 years, researchers used questionnaires to record the participants' eating habits—particularly, the amount of processed red meats they consumed.
Try These Tasty (and Helpful!) Red Meat Alternatives
Now that we have this information, what can we do?
One option is swapping out some of your protein sources. According to a September 2024 study in GeroScience, a daily dose of nuts can decrease your dementia risk by 12 percent. So not only are you skipping out on a protein that can raise your dementia risk, but you’re also adding one that can decrease it.
Related: Too Much of This Nutrient May Be Linked to Dementia, According to Study
Neurologists and dietitians also say that research on nuts isn’t, well, nuts. In a previous Parade article, they pointed out that nuts contain healthy fats, antioxidants, fiber, anti-inflammatory compounds and vitamins that support brain health in various ways.
Other options might include eating versions of those meats—like turkey bacon or veggie dogs—or completely different meats, like chicken.
Limiting a particular type of food is no fun—and you want to be careful that it doesn’t trigger disordered eating—but with other tasty options, it’s not necessarily the worst thing. And again, what you do is all up to you.
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