Associations between ultra-processed food intake and cognitive outcomes across the lifespan

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Introduction: The current dietary landscape is saturated with hyper-palatable and rewarding ultra-processed foods (UPFs) that may influence neurodevelopment. Existing reviews focus on how specific UPF ingredients impair cognition or how total UPF intake is linked to accelerating neurodegeneration in older adults. This systematic review addresses a gap in the literature by being the first to synthesize how total UPF consumption is implicated in specific cognitive domains across the lifespan. Methods: A systematic search across PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science through November 2025 identified 381 records with 13 studies measuring UPF intake and cognitive outcomes for populations aged ≤ 65. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists were used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results: Eleven out of 13 included studies found adverse associations of UPFs on cognition. In early childhood, maternal and preschool UPF intake was inversely associated with lower verbal comprehension and global IQ. In adolescents, higher UPF intake was linked to lower academic achievement (GPA, subject scores). In young adults, acute UPF exposure corresponds to order-dependent deficits in verbal cognition and inhibitory control. Lastly, in middle adulthood, habitual UPF intake elevated the risk of cognitive impairment by 13–16% and can increase neurodegenerative risk by over 50%. Discussion: These findings demonstrate that total UPF consumption disrupts neurodevelopment across the lifespan. Consistent impairment in executive function and verbal domains suggests that UPF exposure may impact the frontotemporal networks, potentially exacerbating vulnerabilities to eating and neurodevelopmental disorders. Early childhood through young adulthood represents a critical neuroplastic window for behavioral interventions to reduce UPF intake. Future research is needed to isolate mechanisms driving these domain-specific cognitive vulnerabilities via an idiographic, mixed-method approach that integrates diverse theoretical models.

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