Regular consumption of processed meat increases risk of dementia, study claims

Eating 25 grams of processed meat per day - equivalent to one serving of bacon - is linked to a 44% increased risk of dementia, scientists from the University of Leeds noted. The results of their new study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Scientists also found that eating unprocessed red meat, such as beef, pork, or veal, may have a protective effect: eating 50 grams per day reduced the risk of dementia by 19%, Medical Express reports.

Among the study participants, dementia was usually diagnosed in older people with financial problems, incomplete education, smokers, and people with low levels of physical activity. It is also common for people with dementia to have a history of stroke and familial dementia and are more likely to carry a gene that is closely related to dementia. At the same time, dementia was more common in men.

Interestingly, the risks of eating processed meat remained the same regardless of whether the person was genetically predisposed to developing dementia. More processed meat was consumed by men, less educated people, smokers, and those who were overweight or obese. The abundance of processed meat was accompanied by a cut in the consumption of vegetables and fruits and an increased calorie intake.

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