Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42086891›Full record

ArticleGeroScience2026

The association between ultra-processed food exposure and cognition in older adults.

Sarah Gauci, Belayneh Mengist, Mojtaba Lotfaliany, Malcolm Forbes, Farzaneh Asoudeh, Deb Junyi Zhang, Suzanne G Orchard, Alice J Owen, Daniel Clayton-Chubb, Robyn L Woods and 5 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Sarah GauciDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. sarah.gauci@deakin.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1907-1066
Belayneh Mengist *Deakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Mojtaba Lotfaliany *Deakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Malcolm ForbesDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Farzaneh AsoudehDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Deb Junyi ZhangDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Suzanne G OrchardSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Alice J OwenSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Daniel Clayton-ChubbDepartment of Gastroenterology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Robyn L WoodsSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
John J McNeilSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Joanne RyanSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Michael BerkDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Adrienne O'NeilDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Mohammadreza MohebbiDeakin Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.

Funding

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the ElderlyU01AG029824 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES, MURRAY, ANNE M · 2009 to 2018
$64.6M
Deakin University DUPR-0000018830National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health U19AG062682National Health and Medical Research Council 1127060National Health and Medical Research Council 1173690National Health and Medical Research Council 2009295National Health and Medical Research Council 334047National Health and Medical Research Council GNT1182301National Health and Medical Research Council GNT2017131NIA NIH HHS U01AG029824
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

With an ageing population comes a growing burden of age-related cognitive decline. While evidence supports a relationship between higher diet quality and better cognitive outcomes, the association between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and cognitive function remains underexplored. We examined this association using prospective data from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study, a cohort of Australian adults aged 70 years and older. Dietary intake was assessed via a mail-based diet screening questionnaire and categorised according to the Nova classification. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R), Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS), and a composite cognitive Z score. Participants were stratified into high UPF (≥ 4 servings/day) and low UPF (< 4 servings/day). Marginal structural models with inverse probability of treatment weighting estimated associations, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical confounders. Among 11,502 participants (3505 high UPF; 7997 low UPF), over a median follow-up of 5.6 (± 2.4) years, higher UPF consumption was associated with poorer performance on the 3MS (mean difference -0.28, 95% CI -0.52 to -0.04), COWAT (-0.23, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.03), SDMT (-0.51, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.08), and the composite Z score (-0.04, 95% CI -0.07 to -0.01), but not HVLT-R (-0.12, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.02). Higher UPF intake was associated with poorer cognitive performance across multiple domains. These findings support initiatives to reduce UPF exposure as a potential strategy to promote healthy cognitive ageing.

Indexed as

CognitionCognitive declineDementiaDietary exposureLifestyle changeNeurosciencesUltra-processed food

Identifiers

PMID42086891

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.