While red meat is rich in protein, iron and other nutrients, a recent study linked it to an increased risk of dementia, but some doctors are skeptical of that claim.

Researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Massachusetts General Hospital Brigham found that consuming a certain amount of food each day Processed red meat According to the press release, the risk of dementia increases by 13%.

It is also associated with a 14% increased risk of subjective cognitive decline and accelerated brain aging.

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“This finding does not surprise us,” the study’s lead author Yuhan Li, a researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, told Fox News Digital.

Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Massachusetts General Hospital at the Brigham have found that eating certain amounts of processed red meat each day increases the risk of dementia, but some doctors are skeptical. (iStock)

“The results were generally consistent with our hypothesis, showing that higher intake of red meat, especially processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of dementia and poorer cognitive performance.”

People who ate at least a quarter serving of unprocessed meat a day were at increased risk, the research article said. That’s the equivalent of about one hot dog, two slices of bacon, or a slice and a half of bologna.

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

The study included 133,771 people, of whom 11,173 were diagnosed with dementia over a four-year period. The data comes from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS), which track participants’ dietary choices and health status.

People who ate at least a quarter serving of unprocessed meat each day were at increased risk, which is equivalent to about two slices of bacon, a hot dog or a slice and a half of bologna. (iStock)

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published Jan. 15 in the journal Neurology.

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

Experts react to findings

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

“With processed meats like bacon and ham, added chemicals may also contribute to dementia through inflammation and neuroinflammation,” added Siegel, who was not involved in the new study.

Researchers suggest that replacing one serving of processed red meat each day with one serving of nuts and legumes could reduce the risk of dementia by 19%. (iStock)

Doctors also warn that red meat may cause weight gain and obesitywhich causes inflammation, which increases the risk of dementia.

“Red meat may also contribute to heart disease, which increases the risk of dementia,” Siegel noted.

Theresa Gentile, a registered dietitian and spokesperson 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 type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. cardiovascular diseaseboth of which are associated with impaired cognitive health.

“No 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 confounders, but still found that eating more processed red meat was associated with cognitive decline than eating less red meat in three different groups. Relevant,” Gentile, who did not work on the study, told Fox Digital News.

Some experts believe the risk has more to do with ultra-processed foods in general rather than specific meats.

One researcher (not pictured) said: “The results are generally consistent with our hypotheses, showing that higher intakes of red meat, especially processed red meat, are associated with an increased risk of dementia and poorer cognitive performance. “ (iStock)

Dr. Heather M. Snyder, senior vice president for medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, noted that multiple studies have shown that a diet containing more ultra-processed foods is bad for brain health.

“For example, a report from AAIC 2022 found that people who consumed high amounts of ultra-processed foods experienced faster cognitive decline,” Snyder, who was not involved in the new study, told Fox News Digital.

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“Daily intake of more than 20% ultra-processed foods was associated with a 28% decrease in overall cognitive scores, including memory and verbal fluency.”

Snyder said it was “unlikely” that one food would have a “significant beneficial or harmful effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s.”

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

Potential research limitations

Siegel noted that the study was observational, meaning “rigorous conclusions cannot be drawn.”

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

It’s “unlikely” that one food can have a significant beneficial or harmful effect on a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s, an expert has said. (iStock)

Lead study author Yuhan also acknowledged potential limitations.

“The Nurses’ Health Study recruited female registered nurses and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study recruited male health professionals in the United States,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“These participants tended to have higher education and income levels, so the generalizability of this study may be limited. Additionally, because this study was an observational study, the possibility of residual confounding still exists.”

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

One doctor said of the study: “The people in these studies who ate the least processed meat and the least red meat — they also exercised every day.” (iStock)

“In these studies, the people who ate the least processed meat and the least red meat — they also exercised every day,” he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel last week.

“They’re definitely not smoking. They’re not drinking to excess. They’re trying to live healthy lives.”

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

Berry noted that research shows that regular exercise and eating whole, unprocessed foods can reduce the risk of dementia.

“I think any nutrition expert would argue against that,” he said, but added that there is “no evidence” that red meat is linked to a higher risk of dementia.

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Gentile recommends limiting portions of processed red meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and deli meats, to less than a quarter serving per day and consider Healthier protein alternatives Such as fish, nuts, beans and chicken.

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“Eating a balanced diet with appropriate protein sources and portion sizes is key,” says Gentile. “If your diet contains a lot of processed red meat, try swapping one of the meals for beans, fish, or chicken.”

One registered dietitian recommends limiting consumption of processed red meat and considering protein alternatives such as fish, nuts, beans and chicken. (iStock)

Nutritionists also recommend including brain food daily, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats.

Snyder noted that the Alzheimer’s Association has long encouraged a balanced diet to help prevent Alzheimer’s and all other types of dementia.

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“This includes less processed foods to ensure our bodies are getting the nutrients they need, as they are 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 risk.”

Berry noted that while he calls himself a “carnivore,” he’s not exactly “anti-plant.”

“I am a Proper diet for humansranging from low-carb with veggies, berries and nuts, to keto with some berries, veggies and nuts, to a ‘keto diet’ with just a little veggies for flavoring and garnish, all the way to carnivore,” he writes in his book said in the video.

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

Berry added, “This is the correct range of human diet.”