March 19, 2026

expert reaction to study looking at meat consumption and measures of cognitive health by APOE genotype, as published in JAMA Network Open

experts comment on study in JAMA Network Open looking at meat consumption and measures of cognitive health by APOE genotype

Prof Tara Spires-Jones, Director of the Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Division Lead in the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Past President of the British Neuroscience Association, said:

“This is an interesting study that looked at data from over 2000 people in Sweden.  The findings show an association between eating more meat and reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia in people who inherited specific combinations of the APOE gene.  Inheriting one or two copies of the APOE4 version of the APOE gene is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

“In this study, people with two copies of APOE4 or one copy of APOE4 and one copy of APOE3 had lower risk of developing cognitive decline or dementia when they ate high amounts of meat, with the effect being most pronounced for unprocessed red meat consumption.  While the study is generally well conducted, the association between increased meat consumption and reduced dementia risk was not observed when looking at everyone in the study and was only marginally significant when examining the different APOE gene groups.

“There are important limitations of this study to keep in mind.  This type of investigation cannot prove that the meat consumption was the cause of reduced dementia risk as other factors such as socioeconomic status likely influence unprocessed meat consumption.  Finally, the meat consumption was measured by self-reported diet questionnaires, and people in the early stages of cognitive decline or dementia likely have trouble remembering their diets accurately.

“There are growing data across the field indicating that a healthy lifestyle including keeping physically and mentally active and eating a healthy diet can boost brain resilience.  However, more data from wider populations are needed to confirm whether meat consumption will directly affect dementia risk.”

Dr Jacqui Hanley, Head of Research, Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:

“This study suggests that higher unprocessed meat consumption was linked to slower cognitive decline and a lower risk of dementia in people with the risk version of APOE gene, known as APOE4.  The APOE gene is known to play a role in many Alzheimer’s cases, so it’s encouraging to see more research exploring how lifestyle factors like diet may interact with genetic risk.

“This is still a relatively new area of research, and the findings should be interpreted with caution.  The study relied on people reporting their diet, which can sometimes lead to errors.  Studies like this can spot links between eating meat and dementia risk but cannot prove whether it is the cause.  More research is needed before suggesting that specific foods can determine whether someone will develop the condition.

“The Lancet report, co funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, identified 14 evidence based risk factors, that, if addressed, could help prevent or delay up to half of dementia cases.  This includes eating a balanced diet, alongside staying active and taking other healthy lifestyle steps.”

* ‘Meat Consumption and Cognitive Health by APOE Genotype’ by Jakob Norgren et al. was published in JAMA Network Open at 16:00 UK time on Thursday 19 March 2026.

DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.6489

Declared interests

Prof Tara Spires-Jones: “I have no conflicts with this study but have received payments for consulting, grant reviews, scientific talks, or collaborative research over the past 10 years from AbbVie, Sanofi, Merck, Scottish Brain Sciences, Jay Therapeutics, Cognition Therapeutics, Ono, Novo Nordisk, Eisai, and Boehringer Ingelheim, and direct a company Spires-Jones Neuroscience, Ltd to act as a consultant.  I am also Charity trustee for the British Neuroscience Association and the Guarantors of Brain and serve as scientific advisor to several charities and non-profit institutions.”

Dr Jacqui Hanley: “There are no conflicts of interest to declare.”