N=133,000 over 40 year time period
Observational study so limitations may apply but the findings do hold after adjusting for a large list of factors I will quote here:
educational attainments, family history of dementia, menopausal status with hormone use status, total energy intake, regular antidepressant drug use, history of depression, BMI, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, neighborhood SES [socioeconomic status], marital status, living arrangement, smoking status, histories of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia and intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and legumes, low-fat dairy products, high-fat dairy products, and alcohol
Thank goodness I never found processed meat appealing or appetizing.
This is my idea of red meat.
Here’s a much better idea of meat, that doesn’t cause cognitive decline.
They also found associations with unprocessed red meats too
There’s plenty of good reasons to cut down on meat, health is only one of them. I try to go meatless whenever I can.