How are sweets, carbs and red meat affecting your brain?

"These foods cause high blood sugar levels over time. This over the course of your life can actually impact your brain and lead to brain atrophy. So it actually is damaging to your brain," says Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Gillian Neff and Rose Shannon

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Jan 19, 2025, 3:15 PM

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Updated 2 hr ago

Certain foods can contribute to brain health, memory loss and other aspects of dementia, according to new research.

Scientists and psychiatrists say a steady stream of sweets and carbohydrates can have a significant impact on the brain.

"These foods cause high blood sugar levels over time. This over the course of your life can actually impact your brain and lead to brain atrophy. So it actually is damaging to your brain," says Dr. Uma Naidoo, a nutritional and lifestyle psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Officials say these foods can also contribute to memory loss and other cognitive issues in the future.

Naidoo says people don't have to give up an entire food group, but recommends they adopt the 80-20 rule.

"Which is 80% of the time eating those healthy foods, and 20% of the time it's the holidays or life happens, so it's your birthday, you're travelling, and it's OK," she said.

Another study shows an association between consuming bacon or other processed red meats daily and a 13% higher chance of developing dementia.

The study tracked more than 133,000 people over 40 years and found that replacing red meat with plant-based protein sources could lead to a 19% lower risk of dementia.