Eating ultra-processed foods such as burgers, packaged bread and flavoured cereals exposes people to an increased risk of brain damage, including memory loss and stroke, a new long-term research study has found.
Over 11 years, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston monitored the diets of more than 30,000 people aged 45 and over, who had no history of cognitive decline or stroke.
It found that the risk of a stroke was 8 per cent higher in people who ate more ultra-processed foods, dropping by 9 per cent if their diets featured more unprocessed or minimally processed foods.
We know from the observation of people living on farms or rural areas who grow their own foods, they are less likely to develop cognitive problems
Dr Jawad Fazal,
neurologist at Burjeel Medical City, Abu Dhabi
Published by the American Academy of Neurology, the study also showed that a 10 per cent increase in the amount of ultra-processed foods eaten was linked to a 16 per cent higher risk of cognitive impairment.
The study
Researchers tracked the diet of each participant via a food questionnaire and mapped its impact on their brain health.
Participants were divided into two groups to check for cognitive decline and strokes.
Ultra-processed foods made up 25.8 per cent of the diets of those who developed memory and thinking problems, and 24.6 per cent of the diets of those who did not develop cognitive problems.
Of the 20,243 participants monitored for brain health, 1,108 experienced a stroke.
“We found that increased consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a higher risk of both stroke and cognitive impairment,” said study author Dr William Taylor Kimberly.
“Our findings show that the degree of food processing plays an important role in overall brain health.”
There is, however, no clear mandate on “the most important dietary choices for (your) brain”, Dr Kimberly added.
Researchers also found eating fewer processed foods led to a 12 per cent lower risk of mental decline and 9 per cent drop in stroke risk.
Slowed decline
Dr Jawad Fazal, a consultant in neurology and stroke medicine at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, said the link between processed foods and cognitive decline was unsurprising.
“We know that people who eat fatty foods with high salt in their diet are at increased risk of heart conditions, and if you go back 10 or 20 years ago we were probably not paying a lot of attention to brain health,” he said.
“However, when we started to see the rise in strokes, people realised there were the same risk factors to the brain which caused people to have heart attacks.”
A build-up of arterial plaque from a diet high in fat and salt is known to cause blood clots leading to the heart aorta, causing cardiac problems.
A similar effect from intracranial atherosclerotic disease causes blockages in blood vessels leading to the brain, causing a stroke.
In the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention has launched a national heath and nutrition survey, to assess the diets of the population and how often they access healthcare.
It is hoped the results from 20,000 households can help determine future health requirements and lifestyle education.
“A build-up of plaque in the brain’s blood vessels is something we commonly see in the UAE,” said Dr Fazal, highlighting an evident link between a healthy diet and good cognitive function.
“We know from observing people living on farms and growing their own foods that they are less likely to develop cognitive problems, or experience issues later in life.”
Dr Fazal also advised people to get checked if they notice their memory is declining.
“We see where exactly they can make lifestyle changes to try and improve, or at least minimise the chance of developing cognitive issues.”
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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- Torque: 760nm
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What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
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Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
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Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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