Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42228145›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neurology2026

Association of combined ultra-processed food intake (ultra-processed dietary pattern) with cognitive function impairment: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Shipeng Zhang, Xiulian Zhuang, Yanjie Jiang, Hanyu Wang, Xingyi He, Qinxiu Zhang, Xiaoli Ji, Yan Lu, Fu Li

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
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In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neurology, 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

9 authors.

Shipeng ZhangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China.
Xiulian ZhuangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China.
Yanjie JiangNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China.
Hanyu WangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China.
Xingyi HeGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
Qinxiu ZhangHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoli JiHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China. jixiaoli1030@163.com.
Yan LuNanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, People's Republic of China. sophieluo896@163.com.
Fu LiHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, People's Republic of China. 464978959@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrevious studies on ultra-processed foods (UPF) and cognitive impairment often isolated UPF from overall dietary patterns, limiting real-world interpretation.

methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to April 2026 for prospective cohort studies assessing total UPF intake (defined by NOVA) and risk of cognitive impairment (including cognitive dysfunction, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease). A random-effects model was used to pool adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) comparing highest versus lowest UPF consumption.

resultsEight cohort studies (total > 250,000 participants) were included. High combined UPF intake was associated with a 14% higher risk of cognitive impairment (pooled HR = 1.14, 95%CI 1.04-1.25, I

conclusionHigher consumption of UPF within a ultra-processed dietary context is positively associated with cognitive impairment risk, particularly among middle-aged adults. These findings support dietary guidelines that recommend limiting UPF intake.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionDietFast FoodsFood, ProcessedCohort StudiesHumansProspective StudiesAlzheimer’s diseaseCognitive function impairmentDementiaNOVAUltra-processed dietary patternUltra-processed food

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

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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.