Older adults who experienced food insecurity in both midlife and later life had nearly four times the probability of probable dementia compared with those who remained food secure, according to new research from the University of Michigan. The findings suggest that food insecurity later in life may be particularly important to cognitive health.
The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found the strongest association among adults who experienced food insecurity in later life. In contrast, researchers found no significant association between food insecurity experienced only during midlife and probable dementia. While food insecurity is often viewed mainly as a problem of hunger and inadequate nutrition, researchers are increasingly examining its broader effects on health across the life course.
Researchers used longitudinal data from the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the longest-running nationally representative household panel survey in the United States. Because the survey has followed families for decades, researchers were able to examine whether the timing of food insecurity was associated with cognitive health later in life.
“Not only can we now track the changes one family experiences, but by collecting this information for decades, we can also examine different parts of the life course,” said Noura Insolera, assistant research scientist at the Institute for Social Research. She noted that long-term data make it possible to investigate connections between experiences such as food insecurity and dementia risk many years later.
The study followed 2,051 adults and examined food insecurity during two periods: midlife, from 1999 to 2003, and later life, from 2015 to 2019. About 3% of participants experienced food insecurity only in midlife, 5.2% only in later life and 5% during both periods. The association with probable dementia was concentrated among those experiencing food insecurity in later adulthood.
Adults who experienced food insecurity during both periods had an estimated 40% probability of probable dementia, compared with 11% among those who remained food secure. Participants who experienced food insecurity only in later life also had a significantly higher estimated probability, at 34%. However, the researchers cautioned that the study cannot establish whether food insecurity directly contributes to dementia or whether other related factors help explain the association.
Food insecurity may affect health through several pathways. In addition to the physical consequences of inadequate nutrition, uncertainty about obtaining enough food can create significant psychological stress. Insolera said older adults facing financial pressures may sometimes choose to spend less on food in order to cover bills and other essential expenses. The combination of nutritional challenges and the stress associated with food insecurity could have broader consequences for health.
The findings highlight the importance of identifying and addressing food insecurity among older adults. Although health care providers increasingly screen patients for food insecurity, connecting people with effective assistance can be challenging. Insolera pointed to expanded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits provided during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how government intervention can support families, suggesting that stronger food assistance programs could help address food insecurity and its potential long-term health consequences.
More information: Cindy W Leung et al, Associations between mid-life and later-life food insecurity on probable dementia in a national sample of United States adults, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101386
Journal information: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Provided by University of Michigan