David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

The Food Habit You Cannot Ignore for Brain Health

14 Aug 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief presentation, Dr. David Perlmutter identifies the consumption of ultra‑processed foods as a pervasive brain‑health mistake. He notes that about 60% of calories consumed by Americans come from such foods and cites epidemiological data linking them to Alzheimer’s disease risk: an average of one serving per day is associated with a 13% higher risk, while consuming ten or more servings daily (e.g., a handful of chips) corresponds to a 2.7‑fold (270%) increase in risk. He emphasizes that Alzheimer’s currently lacks an effective pharmaceutical cure, underscoring the importance of dietary prevention.

Chapters

This is the one brain health mistake I see people making every day. Hi, I'm Dr. David Perlmutter, and you might not think it's a big deal, but it turns out that, and you've heard it before, these ultra-processed foods that are absolutely everywhere— I mean, 60% of calories consumed by Americans come from these ultra-processed foods— that's a brain health mistake. Even one serving as an average per day of ultra-processed foods is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's by a remarkable 13%. Have 10 or more servings, that's 10 or more handfuls of chips, for example, that's associated with a 2.7-fold, a 270% increased risk of developing this disease for which we have no pharmaceutical treatment.