A new study from Harvard University suggests that eating high quantities of ultra-processed foods, like processed meats and sugary drinks, may increase the risk of early death.

Ultra-processed foods are bad for more than your waistline: New research shows they seem to raise the risk of stroke and dementia -related memory or thinking problems. A 10% increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods a person eats is associated with a 16% higher risk of cognitive problems, researchers found.

A new study published this week from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston finds that consuming ultra-processed foods may also increase a person’s risk for stroke and cognitive decline.

Although higher consumptions of ultra-processed foods were associated with greater risks of stroke and cognitive decline, high consumptions of unprocessed, whole foods were linked to a decline in these health conditions.

These findings underscore the potential long-term impact of dietary choices on brain health and cardiovascular events.

The levels of food processing is associated with cognitive impairment and stroke, according to a study published online May 22 in Neurology. Varun M. Bhave, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues examined the associations between ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) and incident cognitive impairment