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Toddlers who consume large quantities of ultraprocessed food are more likely to have lower IQs when they reach school age, according to a new study.
Researchers from a Brazilian and an American university wanted to investigate if eating habits at age two could predict cognitive abilities later in childhood.
The researchers used data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort, a large-scale, long-term project that tracks the health of children born in the city of Pelotas in Brazil.
The team analyzed information for more than 3,400 children. When the children were two years old, their parents answered questions about the toddlers’ diet. Then, when the children were seven years old, their intelligence and cognitive function were assessed by psychologists, using a test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.
Researchers found a clear association between consumption of ultraprocessed foods at age two and lower IQ at age seven: a drop of 2 points.
The link persisted even when other factors that influence intelligence were accounted for, such as the mother’s education, family income, and how much mental stimulation the child received at home.
The negative effects were even more pronounced for children who already faced developmental difficulties, defined as low weight, height and head circumference for their age. For these children, a diet high in ultraprocessed foods was linked to a reduction of 5 IQ points.
Researchers believe the drop in IQ could be caused by negative changes to the gut microbiome—the community of billions of microorganisms that inhabit our gut—and increases in levels of oxidative stress. Because ultraprocessed foods lack the protective antioxidant compounds found in fresh and minimally processed foods, the developing brain is more susceptible to damage from various stressors.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made ultraprocessed foods one of the central targets of his Make America Healthy Again campaign. If you want to know more about them, why they’re bad and how you can ensure you and your family eat proper nutritious food instead, read our detailed primer here.
