by Frank Bergman, Slay News:
A troubling new study is raising fresh concerns about the hidden dangers of ultraprocessed foods after researchers found that toddlers who consume large amounts of these products are more likely to suffer reduced intelligence by the time they reach school age.
Researchers from universities in Brazil and the United States set out to determine whether eating habits at just two years old could predict cognitive ability later in childhood.
The results of the study, led by Dr. Glaucia Treichel Heller, were published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Major Long-Term Study Tracks Thousands of Children
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The scientists relied on data from the 2015 Pelotas Birth Cohort.
The long-running project monitors the health and development of children born in Pelotas, Brazil.
More than 3,400 children were included in the analysis.
At age two, parents answered detailed questions about diet.
At age seven, psychologists evaluated intelligence and cognitive performance using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.
Clear Link Between Ultraprocessed Foods and Lower IQ
The findings revealed a direct association between early consumption of ultraprocessed foods and reduced intelligence later in childhood.
Children who ate more ultraprocessed foods at age two showed an average IQ drop of two points by age seven.
Even after accounting for other major influences, such as maternal education, family income, and mental stimulation at home, the connection remained.
Most Vulnerable Children Hit Hardest
The impact was even more severe among children already facing developmental challenges, including low weight, height, or head circumference for their age.
For these vulnerable children, diets high in ultraprocessed foods were linked to an alarming five-point reduction in IQ.
