Ultra-processed foods linked to brain differences in young children

02 Jul 2026, 16:00 · Medical Xpress

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Gaby Clark

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Andrew Zinin

Chief Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

reputable news agency

proofread

The GIST Add as preferred source

More than half the calories consumed by young kids in the U.S. come from ultra-processed foods.

Now, a new study warns that those foods, including sugary cereals, packaged snacks, fast food and processed meats, may be linked to measurable differences in brain structure by age 6.

A team at Children's Hospital Los Angeles followed 144 Latino and Hispanic mother-child pairs from infancy through age 6, tracking kids' diets over time and using MRI scans to measure brain structure.

The result: For every 10% increase in ultra-processed food intake, brain volume was nearly 2% lower in regions involved in reward, emotion and motivation.

The study found no link between ultra-processed foods and cognitive performance.

But researchers say changes in brain structure may appear before changes in memory, thinking or behavior.

"Our findings suggest that what children eat early in life may shape brain development in ways we're just beginning to understand," said senior author Michael Goran, director of the Nutrition and Obesity Program at the hospital's Saban Research Institute. "Even without differences in cognitive performance, we're seeing measurable changes in brain structure."

More work is needed to understand what these structural differences may mean for long-term health.

"We still have much to learn about how early dietary exposures influence the developing brain," Goran said.

The findings were recently published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Publication details

Jonatan Ottino-González et al, Early-Life Cumulative Intake of Ultra-Processed Foods and Subcortical Brain Volume at Age Six Years: A Prospective Cohort Study, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101350

Johns Hopkins University has more on ultra-processed foods.

Journal information: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Key medical concepts

Food, Processedbrain volumeBrainMagnetic Resonance Imaging

Clinical categories

Children's healthNutrition & Healthy eatingPediatricsNeurology Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: Ultra-processed foods linked to brain differences in young children (2026, July 2) retrieved 2 July 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ultra-foods-linked-brain-differences.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.