What Older Adults Eat May Affect Their Risk of Depression
Summary
A study of people over 70 found eating fewer ultraprocessed and inflammatory foods is linked to a lower risk of depression symptoms. The researchers said a better quality diet helps reduce depression risk regardless of genetic factors.Key Facts
- The study involved more than 7,000 older adults monitored for nearly 6 years.
- Eating four or more servings of ultraprocessed foods daily was linked to a 12% higher chance of depression symptoms.
- A diet low in inflammatory foods lowered depression risk by 7%.
- Ultraprocessed foods include items like soft drinks, packaged snacks, ice cream, and instant noodles.
- Inflammatory foods include ultraprocessed foods, fried foods, and refined carbs that may cause low-level body inflammation.
- The study used the Dietary Inflammation Score to measure how inflammatory participants’ diets were.
- The research was conducted by Australian universities and published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
- Not all ultraprocessed foods are equally harmful; whole-grain and plant-based ultraprocessed foods might be less risky.
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