Popular foods Americans eat every day linked to silent brain damage, alarming study finds

A recent study conducted by Canadian researchers found a correlation between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of stroke and future memory problems in healthy adults.

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to examine the brains of about 9,000 participants, the researchers discovered small areas of brain damage more commonly in people who ate large amounts of ultra-processed foods , such as soft drinks, packaged snacks and sugary breakfast cereals.

Those with the highest intake of ultra-processed foods were 40% more likely to show these changes in the brain, which can go undetected because they don’t produce obvious symptoms , Medical Xpress reported.

HIGH SALT INTAKE LINKED TO FASTER MEMORY DECLINE IN ONE GROUP, STUDY FINDS These brain changes can, however, be early warning signs in the years before the onset of a stroke or memory problems.

These findings were unexpected, according to Russel J. de Souza, first author of the study and an associate scientist at the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences.

"Usually, this kind of damage is associated with conditions we hear about and treat at a much older age," de Souza told Medical Xpress.

He noted that the study focused on "middle-aged Canadians who had no heart problems and reported no other health concerns." GEN Z EATS NEARLY TWICE AS MANY SNACKS AS BOOMERS, WITH EXPERTS WARNING THEY'RE REPLACING REAL MEALS The study, which was published in JAMA Network Open , included participants between the ages of 35 and 69.

Participants who ate the most ultra-processed foods held more body fat and visceral fat , which is linked to various health concerns including heart disease.

The study found an overall stronger connection between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and brain damage among female participants.

Women in the highest consumption group had nearly twice the likelihood of exhibiting signs of brain damage as opposed to those in the lowest consumption group.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Our findings suggest that the link between diet and brain health may be detectable before people experience noticeable problems with memory or thinking," said Sonia Anand, senior author of the study and senior scientist at PHRI.

Ultra-processed foods are usually tasty, but they frequently lack important nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals, while containing high amounts of sodium, saturated fats and added sugars, according to the CDC.

The average percentage of total daily calories consumed from ultra-processed foods was 55% among Americans ages one year and older between August 2021 and August 2023, according to data published by the CDC in August 2025.