Scientists warn ultra-processed foods could increase your risk of depression in older age

Older people who eat a diet high in ultra processed foods such as sugary cereals, lollies and cured meats have an increased risk of depression, a new study has found.

Researchers from Deakin University in Melbourne found that people aged 70 and older who eat at least four portions of ultra-processed food a day increased their risk of depression by 10 per cent.

Older people are at greater risk of developing depression due to a combination of risk factors that disproportionally affect older people, like chronic illness and isolation, yet the condition is not a normal part of aging so the research team wanted to look at how a modifiable factor, like diet, can affect the mental health of older Australians.

While previous research has shown that what we eat can affect our mood, experts have warned that Australians, especially those on a limited budget like many older people have become dependent on ultra-processed foods.

To understand this link further, the research team studied  the eating habits of over 11,000 older adults who were not on anti-depressants and were free from chronic illness and dementia, then monitored their diets and mental health for three years.

At the start of the study, participants were separated into two groups. The first group were those who consumed a high level of ultra-processed foods at the start of the study and continued throughout the trial while the second group comprised those who consumed a low level of ultra-processed foods over the same period.

Researcher Belayneh Mengist Miteku said the findings reinforced the need for older people to include as much freshly prepared whole food in their diets as possible.

“Depression in older Australians is a major problem and can lead to poor health outcomes and even premature death, so reducing depression risks is an important way to ensure people are living well into their older age,” Miteku said.

“We know that older people might be tempted to look for tasty and convenient meals that don’t require much preparation, but pre-prepared and frozen meals often include a lot of ultra-processed ingredients that might be tasty but are not healthy when eaten too often.

“Cost and convenience as well as concerns around food that is crunchy, tough-to-chew or difficult to swallow are the main issues.”

Also another issue Miteku said is that many people consume mass-produced and highly refined products  like some fruit juices and many ready-to-heat frozen meals, thinking they are healthy.

Fellow researcher and Associate Professor, Mohammadreza Mohebbi said the results highlighted the need for policy change and improvements to dietary guidelines to reduce our growing reliance on ultra-processed food.

“We know reducing ultra-processed food has a positive impact on our physical health and this research is further evidence that reducing ultra-processed food in our diet will contribute to better mental health and quality of life,” Mohebbi said.

“These findings will also provide much-needed evidence for health care professionals to incorporate dietary recommendations into mental health care for aging populations.”

While many of us would like to eat better, the cost of living crisis has impacted what we can buy, but making some changes, like drinking less sugary drinks and replacing some meat with legumes can help improve your overall wellbeing and not hurt your bank account.

It can also improve stress levels, which can also exacerbate other conditions like chronic illnesses and injuries.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.