New research illuminates how ultra-processed foods can also cause a significant decrease in brain function. Processed foods are items with very few whole ingredients and often contain flavorings, colorings or other additives. On the list would include bread, crackers, cookies, fried snacks, cream cheese, ice cream, candy, soda and hot dogs. Frozen meals are also at the forefront of processed foods. Research presented Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in San Diego outlined how these foods play a factor in a faster rate of cognitive decline. “It’s no secret that physical and mental-cognitive health are intimately involved with each other, so it’s no surprise that this latest research suggests brain impairment, too,” said Rafael Perez-Escamilla, a professor of public health at Yale University. Click the link in our bio for more details on what to know about processed foods.