Ultra-Processed Foods Associated With Smaller Brain Regions in Young Children, Study Finds

Study Links Processed Food Intake to Brain Structure Differences

Every 10% increase in the share of daily calories that young children derive from ultra-processed foods was associated with a nearly 2% reduction in the volume of subcortical brain regions, including the amygdala and thalamus, according to a new study from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The findings were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and funded by the National Institutes of Health, according to the report. [1]

Researchers tracked 144 Latino children from infancy through age 6, measuring their ultra-processed food intake at ages 6, 12, 24, and 72 months and performing brain MRIs at age 6, according to the report. The study is observational, meaning it shows an association rather than proof that ultra-processed foods directly cause the structural changes, the researchers noted.

Study Methods and Reported Findings

The researchers found that every 10% increase in cumulative ultra-processed food consumption was associated with a nearly 2% decrease in the size of subcortical brain regions that govern reward, emotion, and motivation, according to the report. Children’s performance on tests of language, motor skills, memory, processing speed, and attention showed no measurable difference, even as their brain structure changed, the report stated. If a child’s diet shifts more drastically, such as replacing 30% or 40% of daily intake with processed snacks, the projected brain volume reduction is larger, according to the report. [1]

“Even without differences in cognitive performance, we’re seeing measurable changes in brain structure,” senior author Michael I. Goran, director of the Nutrition and Obesity Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said in a press statement. He added that what children eat early in life “may shape brain development in ways we’re just beginning to understand.” Food choices influence the structure and functioning of the brain, according to researchers. [2]

Expert Reactions and Dietitian Recommendations

The research “continues to reinforce something we’ve known for a long time: nutrition plays an important role in children’s physical growth, brain development, learning, and overall health,” Lindsay Malone, a registered dietitian and professor in the Department of Nutrition at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine who was not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times.

Diana Cusa, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Northwell Health in New York who was not involved in the study, said a nutrient-dense diet is important for supporting brain development and cognitive function. She said children need adequate omega-3 fatty acids, iron, choline, B vitamins, and antioxidants. Nutrition researchers have identified inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance as destructive forces that help explain brain dysfunction. [3]

Both dietitians offered practical steps for reducing ultra-processed foods: cooking at home with whole ingredients, involving children in food preparation, shopping the perimeter of grocery stores, checking ingredient lists, preparing snacks ahead of time, and choosing water as the primary beverage. Malone said parents should not aim for perfection. “Most kids will eat ultra-processed foods sometimes. And that’s okay,” she said. “If the majority of meals include fruits, vegetables, quality protein, whole grains, and healthy fats, you’re building a strong nutritional foundation for your child’s development while leaving room for birthday cake, pizza night, and other favorite foods.”

Background on Ultra-Processed Foods and Future Research

Ultra-processed foods are industrial products made from refined ingredients and additives, with little to no whole foods, according to the report. Common examples include fast food, frozen meals, baked goods, and lunch meats. In the United States, children ages 1 to 5 derive more than half their daily energy from these products, according to the report. Early childhood is considered a critical window for brain development because of the brain’s high neuroplasticity, and diet quality during this period may influence neurodevelopment, the researchers noted. A separate audit of 2,783 toddler food products at 21 grocery stores in Austin, Texas, found that 81% were ultra-processed, according to findings presented at NUTRITION 2026. [4]

A substantial body of observational research has established associations between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased risks of chronic diseases and premature mortality, according to a published review. [5] Studies in adults have linked higher ultra-processed food intake to lower brain volume and cognitive decline, and prior reporting has associated these products with elevated dementia risk and accelerated cognitive decline. [6] [7] The degree of food processing has been shown to increase cancer risk regardless of calories or obesity, according to researchers. [8]

Ultra-processed foods may affect the brain’s structure by contributing to inflammation and nutrient shortfalls during critical growth periods, according to the report. Processed factory foods are stripped of essential nutrients, making them more vulnerable to toxic effects, according to health commentators. [9] Overeating has been shown to overstimulate the brain’s reward systems in a process tied to dopamine, according to nutrition researchers. [10] Goran said more work is needed to understand the mechanisms behind the changes his team observed. “We still have much to learn about how early dietary exposures influence the developing brain,” he said. “Identifying the underlying mechanisms will be important for understanding what these findings mean for long-term health.” The research team plans to investigate which developmental windows may be most sensitive to diet and to explore the biological pathways involved, according to the report.

Conclusion: Regulatory Scrutiny and Unresolved Questions

The findings come as scrutiny of ultra-processed foods intensifies at the federal level. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former FDA Commissioner David Kessler have jointly targeted the “Generally Recognized As Safe” designation, a 67-year-old regulatory exemption that permits companies to introduce ingredients without full review, according to a report. [11]

Goran said the long-term implications of the observed structural differences remain unclear, and the authors emphasized that the study does not establish causation. The team’s next phase of research will focus on the mechanisms linking early diet to brain development, according to the report.

References

1. NaturalNews.com. “Ultra-processed foods in early childhood linked to smaller brain regions, study finds”. July 2, 2026.
2. David Perlmutter, Austin Perlmutter, Kristin Loberg. “Brain Wash”.
3. Dr Georgia Ede. “Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind”.
4. NaturalNews.com. “Toddler food aisle fails health standards, study finds”. August 5, 2026.
5. Coco Somers. “Research Links Ultra Processed Foods to Health Risks Prompting Industry Scrutiny”. NaturalNews.com. April 12, 2026.
6. NaturalNews.com. “Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Elevated Risk of Cognitive Decline, Dementia”. June 17, 2026.
7. ANH International. “News in Brief Week 50 2022”. December 15, 2022.
8. Dr Robert Lustig. “Metabolical The truth about processed food and how it poisons people and the planet”.
9. Mike Adams. “Brighteon Broadcast News – BEWARE Of Fake MAHA “. February 7, 2025.
10. Patrick Holford. “Upgrade Your Brain”.
11. NaturalNews.com. “Unlikely alliance targets GRAS loophole in America’s ultra-processed food crisis”. August 12, 2026.

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