Ultra-processed foods tied to brain differences in young children

Children who consumed more ultra-processed food (UPF) during their first 6 years of life showed measurably smaller volumes in several subcortical brain structures at age 6, according to a prospective cohort study led by researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).¹ Each 10% increase in cumulative UPF intake was associated with an approximately 2% reduction in the combined volume of the accumbens, amygdala, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus—regions involved in reward processing, emotion regulation, and motivation.¹ No association was found between UPF intake and cognitive test performance.¹

"Our findings suggest that what children eat early in life may shape brain development in ways we're just beginning to understand," said Michael I. Goran, PhD, senior author and director of the Nutrition and Obesity Program at CHLA's Saban Research Institute. "Even without differences in cognitive performance, we're seeing measurable changes in brain structure."¹

Study design and key findings in the CHLA cohort

The study followed 144 Latino/Hispanic mother-infant pairs, assessing UPF intake at 6, 12, 24, and 72 months using repeated 24-hour dietary recalls.¹ Cognitive performance was tested at 24 months (144 children) and again at 72 months (93 children), first through language and motor-skill evaluations and later with a computerized battery measuring memory, processing speed, and attention.¹ Subcortical brain volumes were measured by MRI at 72 months, and weight and height were tracked throughout.² The inverse association between cumulative UPF intake and subcortical volume held across exposure windows and across UPF subtypes, and no corresponding link to cognitive scores emerged at either testing point.²

Ultra-processed food intake and disease burden in young children

UPFs are industrially formulated products made largely from refined ingredients, with additives such as sweeteners, emulsifiers, and flavorings used for shelf life or palatability rather than nutrition.¹ Common examples include certain fast foods, frozen meals, packaged baked goods, lunch meats, and processed dairy products.¹ In the United States, UPFs already account for more than half of total energy intake among children ages 1 to 5, making early exposure the norm rather than the exception.¹

Early neurodevelopment and prior evidence on UPF exposure

Early childhood is marked by heightened neuroplasticity, and diet quality during this window has previously been proposed as a potential influence on neurodevelopment.¹ In adults, higher UPF consumption has been associated with cognitive impairment, dementia risk, reduced attention and working memory, and lower regional brain volume.¹ Longitudinal cohorts have also linked subcortical brain volume in early life to later physical and mental health outcomes.¹ Because pediatric neuroimaging data on UPF exposure had been limited, the CHLA team designed this study to test whether the adult pattern extends to young children.¹

Interpreting the findings cautiously

The authors frame the results as evidence of a structural signal that precedes, or may exist independent of, any measurable cognitive change—not proof that UPF exposure causes functional impairment. Goran emphasized that the underlying biological pathway remains unclear: "We still have much to learn about how early dietary exposures influence the developing brain. Identifying the underlying mechanisms will be important for understanding what these findings mean for long-term health."¹ Because UPFs overlap nutritionally with foods high in added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats, isolating the effect of processing itself from co-occurring nutrient composition remains a central interpretive challenge.²

Limitations and next steps

The cohort was relatively small and homogeneous—144 Latino/Hispanic mother-infant pairs, with MRI data available for only 93 children at 72 months—which may limit generalizability to other populations.¹ Dietary intake relied on caregiver-reported 24-hour recalls, an approach susceptible to recall and reporting bias. The association design cannot establish causation, and no cognitive correlate of the volumetric findings was observed, leaving the clinical significance of the brain differences uncertain. The investigators say next steps include clarifying critical exposure windows, identifying specific nutritional or biological mechanisms, and following children longer to determine whether these structural differences carry functional consequences.¹

References

1. Ottino-González J, Goran MI, et al. Early-life cumulative intake of ultra-processed foods and subcortical brain volume at age six years: a prospective cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. Published online June 2, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101350

2. Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Ultra-processed foods linked to brain differences in young children. Newswise. June 29, 2026. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://www.newswise.com/articles/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-brain-differences-in-young-children