What You Eat Could Be Aging Your Brain—Here’s Why

What we eat, or don’t eat, might affect more than just our bodies—it could shape how well our brains work. A new study from Mount Sinai researchers has uncovered a strong link between gut microbiome imbalances and cognitive impairment, especially among adults who experience food insecurity.

Researchers examined data from 360 adults and found that the composition of bacteria in the gut—especially when diversity was low—was associated with a higher risk of cognitive issues. But that wasn’t all. Food insecurity on its own was also tied to poor gut health and diminished brain function. When both factors were present, the risk increased even more.

How Food Insecurity Affects Gut-Brain Health

Food insecurity refers to limited or uncertain access to healthy food. In 2022, over 17 million U.S. households reported experiencing this problem. While it’s often seen as a social or economic issue, this study suggests it’s a biological concern, too.

Researchers found that certain bacterial communities—called microbial cliques—were linked to cognitive problems, but these connections varied depending on whether a person had enough food. For example, people facing food insecurity showed stronger associations between specific bacteria, like Eisenbergiella and Eubacterium, and cognitive decline. In contrast, a different group of bacteria, including Ruminococcus torques and Bacteroides, was more connected to cognitive issues among food-secure individuals.

This means that the same microbial imbalance may have different effects depending on a person’s nutritional environment.

Why This Matters for Mental Health Treatment

The relationship between the gut microbiome and cognitive impairment is gaining attention in emerging therapy circles. Microbiome-targeted treatments—such as probiotics, prebiotics, or diet-based interventions—are becoming more common in brain health strategies.

Food insecurity may shape microbiome-based therapies

Because food access appears to change how gut microbes affect the brain, future treatments may need to consider someone’s food environment to be effective. This could lead to more personalized therapies that blend nutritional support with microbiome modulation—especially for older adults at risk of dementia.

In short, addressing gut health without addressing food insecurity may not be enough. Integrated public health approaches that improve access to healthy food while supporting microbiome balance could be key to preventing or slowing cognitive decline.

This study reminds us that mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Social conditions like food insecurity are deeply intertwined with biological systems like the gut-brain axis. As research continues, the hope is to develop more targeted, inclusive, and effective mental health interventions that treat the whole person—body, brain, and environment together.

Discover more with Interventional Psychiatry Network.

Citations:

1. Eggers, S., Midya, V., et al. (2025). Gut Microbiome Composition and Food Insecurity Linked to Risk of Cognitive Impairment in Adults. NPJ Aging. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-024-00127-6

2. USDA Economic Research Service. (2023). Household Food Security in the United States in 2022. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=106247