TUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Higher sodium intake may be linked to poorer cognitive function in men, according to a study published in the June 2026 issue.Neurobiology of Aging.
Francisca Chuva, from Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, Australia, and colleagues investigated the relationship between baseline sodium intake and cognitive decline over a 72-month period using data from 1,208 cognitively intact participants in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Study, men (70.1% age).
The researchers found a negative association between sodium intake and changes in episodic memory composition in men (β = -0.00002; adjusted false discovery rate P = 0.044). There was no association overall or among women. There was no association when the cohort was stratified by apolipoprotein E status.
Samantha Gardener, Ph.D., also of Edith Cowan University, said in a statement: “Our findings provide early evidence of a link between higher sodium intake and cognitive function, but more research is needed to fully understand how and why this link exists.” “There are some indications from previous studies that high sodium may contribute to brain processes associated with cognitive decline; however, further research will be important to identify the underlying mechanisms and inform future dietary recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of dementia.”
The two authors revealed connections with the pharmaceutical and food industries.
