Association between midlife intake of ultra-processed foods and later-life subjective cognitive complaints: Evidence from the new York University women's health study.

OBJECTIVE

Research into risk factors for subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) may offer insight into the etiology and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) contain food additives that improve palatability and processed raw materials. Evidence is limited on the role of mid-life UPF intake in the development of late-life SCCs.

METHODS

We included 5119 participants who responded to the 2018 or 2020 follow-up of the New York University Women's Health Study, a prospective cohort of 14,274 women recruited in New York City, United States, in 1985-91. Data on diet were collected at baseline using a validated modified Block food frequency questionnaire. Energy-adjusted total intake of UPFs and subgroups of UPFs, defined following the nova guidelines, were estimated using the residual method.

RESULTS

The odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for reporting ≥2 SCCs were 1.15 (0.94-1.39), 1.06 (0.87-1.30), 1.20 (0.99-1.46), and 1.24 (1.02-1.51) for women in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th quintiles of energy-adjusted UPF intake, respectively, compared to those in the bottom quintile (p-trend = 0.02). The associations were similar in sensitivity analyses using Multiple Imputation and Inverse Probability Weighting to account for potential selection bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher UPF intakes in midlife were associated with higher odds of late-life SCCs in women.