Eating processed red meat could increase risk of dementia, study finds

The study also suggested that replacing one daily serving of processed red meat with nuts, beans or tofu could lower the risk of dementia by 23%. Photograph: Rick Wilking/Reuters

Eating processed red meat could be a significant risk factor for dementia, according to a large study that tracked more than 100,000 people over four decades.

Processed red meat has previously been shown to increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Now US researchers say they have uncovered a potential link to dementia.