Red meat may increase risk of dementia, say researchers: Experts react

Although red meat is a rich source of protein, iron and other nutrients, recent research has linked it to an increased risk of dementia – but some doctors question the claim.

Researchers from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health and Mass General Brigham found that daily consumption of a certain amount of processed red meat increases the risk of dementia by 13%, according to a press release.

It is also tied to a 14% higher risk of cognitive decline and accelerated brain aging.

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“The findings are not really surprising,” lead 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 high intake of red meat, especially processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and worse cognition.”

The increased risk was seen in people who ate at least a quarter of unprocessed meat per day, according to the study article. This is equivalent to one hot dog, two slices of bacon, or one and a half slices of bologna.

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The researchers also suggested that replacing one serving of processed red meat a day with a serving of nuts and vegetables could reduce the risk of dementia by 19% – and that replacing it with fish could reduce the risk by 28%.

The study involved 133,771 people, 11,173 of whom developed dementia over a ten-year 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 status.

An increased risk was seen in people who ate at least a quarter of unprocessed meat a day, the equivalent of two slices of bacon, one hot dog, or one and a half slices of bologna. (Stock)

Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, this study was published on Jan. 15 in the journal Neurology.

The findings were presented for the first time at the Alzheimer’s Association International (AAIC) conference in early 2024.

Experts react to the findings

“There are many reasons to believe that too much red meat is related to dementia,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and senior medical analyst for Fox News, told Fox News Digital.

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

Researchers have suggested that replacing one serving of processed red meat a day with a serving of nuts and vegetables can reduce the risk of dementia by 19%. (Stock)

The doctor also warned about red meat that could lead to weight gain and obesity, which could cause inflammation and increase the risk of dementia.

“Red meat can also lead to heart disease, which increases the risk of dementia,” notes Siegel.

Theresa Gentile, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in New York, noted that previous studies have found an association between red meat — especially processed red meat — and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which both are related to impaired mental health.

“Not a single food or ingredient has been shown to cause, increase the risk of, prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s or other dementias.”

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

Some experts suggest that the risk is more closely linked to processed foods rather than certain meats.

“The results are generally consistent with our hypothesis, showing that a high intake of red meat, especially processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia and worse cognition,” said one of the researchers (not pictured). (Stock)

Heather M. Snyder, Ph.D., senior vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, pointed out that many studies have suggested that a diet high in processed foods is harmful to brain health.

“For example, the AAIC 2022 report found that people who eat large amounts of 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 the daily intake of unprocessed food led to a rapid decline of 28% in global cognitive scores, including memory and verbal fluency.”

It is “unlikely” that a single diet will have “a major beneficial or detrimental effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s,” according to Snyder.

“Not a single food or ingredient has been shown, through rigorous scientific research, to increase the risk of, prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer’s or other dementias,” she said.

Potential study limitations

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

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

It is “unlikely” that a single diet will have “a significant beneficial or detrimental effect on a complex disease like Alzheimer’s,” one expert said. (Stock)

Lead study author Yuhan also acknowledged potential limitations.

“The Nurses’ Health Study enrolled female registered nurses, while the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study enrolled American male health professionals,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“These participants tend to have higher education and income levels, therefore, the generalizability of the study may be limited. Additionally, because this study is an observational study, residual confounding is still 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 may have skewed the results.

“The people who ate the least amount of processed meat and the least amount of red meat in these studies – they were exercising every day,” said one doctor when talking about the study. (Stock)

“The people who ate less processed meat and less red meat in these studies — they were exercising every day,” he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel last week.

“They didn’t smoke at all. They didn’t drink excessively. They tried their best to live a healthy life.”

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

Research has shown that regular exercise and eating a whole, unprocessed diet can reduce the risk of dementia, Berry notes.

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

Healthy eating tips

Gentile recommended limiting consumption of processed red meats such as bacon, sausages, hot dogs and deli meats to less than a quarter of a day’s servings, and considering healthy protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, whole grains and chicken.

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“A balanced diet and balance in terms of protein sources and serving sizes are key,” Gentile says. “If your diet is heavy on processed red meat, try swapping one of those meals for beans, fish or chicken.”

One registered dietitian recommended limiting consumption of processed red meat and considering protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, whole grains and chicken. (Stock)

The nutritionist also suggested including brain-boosting foods each day, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.

The Alzheimer’s Association has long advocated eating a balanced diet to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and all other forms of dementia, notes Snyder.

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“That includes less processed foods to make sure our bodies get the nutrients they need, because they’ve been associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline,” he told Fox News Digital.

“As research continues, we may uncover other dietary patterns that increase or decrease our risk.”

Berry pointed out that although he is a self-described “carnivore,” he is not completely “anti-plant.”

“I am a supporter of the right diet for people, from low-carb with vegetables and berries and nuts, to keto with a few berries and vegetables and nuts, to ‘ketovore’ with a little veg for taste and decoration, all the way to eat meat,” he said in his video.

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

Added Berry, “That’s the right spectrum for human consumption.”