High Salt Intake Linked to Faster Cognitive Decline in Older Men, Study Reveals

Excess salt consumption has long been associated with elevated blood pressure, but new research suggests it may also accelerate cognitive decline, particularly in older men.

A six-year study conducted by Australian researchers has found that higher dietary sodium intake was associated with faster decline in episodic memory among men aged 60 and older, while women appeared to be unaffected. The findings, published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, suggest that sodium intake could be a modifiable risk factor for memory decline in older males.

“Episodic recall is a type of memory used to recall personal experiences and specific events from one’s past, such as where you parked your car or your first day of school,” explained study author Samantha Gardener, PhD, a research fellow in neuroscience at the School of Medical and Health Sciences at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia.

The research team analyzed data from more than 1,200 older adults who participated in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study of aging. Despite observing a clear association between sodium intake and memory decline in men, Gardener noted, “We did not see any relationship between the amount of sodium consumed and memory decline in females.”

While men in the study reported consuming greater amounts of sodium than women, researchers believe the gender difference in cognitive outcomes may also be related to men’s higher diastolic blood pressure. “Elevated blood pressure is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease, and sodium plays a key role in blood pressure regulation,” Gardener said.

New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital, “This study adds to the evidence that high-sodium diets may affect more than blood pressure. These study findings are a good reminder that sodium intake matters for brain and heart health, especially for adults who already eat more than recommended.”

The researchers acknowledged several limitations to their findings. As an observational study, it shows association but cannot rule out other potential factors like overall diet quality, physical activity, or other health conditions that might contribute to cognitive decline. Additionally, sodium intake was self-reported through food frequency questionnaires, which are subject to recall errors.

The study only measured sodium at the beginning of the research period and didn’t capture changes in intake over time. It also failed to account for salt added during cooking or at the table. Furthermore, the participant pool was predominantly Caucasian, potentially limiting the applicability of results to other populations.

“We were not able to identify why sodium intake is having this effect, and this will be researched in the future,” Gardener said. “These findings are preliminary, and further investigation is required to evaluate how sodium intake could be incorporated as one modifiable lifestyle factor aimed at delaying Alzheimer’s disease onset.”

Current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day for adults, equivalent to roughly one teaspoon of table salt. However, typical American diets far exceed this amount, with up to 80% of sodium intake coming from processed foods.

Common high-sodium foods include pizza, sandwiches, burgers, deli meats, chips, crackers, canned foods, salad dressings, cheeses, and many condiments, according to Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist in North Carolina.

Health experts recommend several strategies for reducing sodium intake. “Replacing one processed snack – such as beef jerky, olives, salted nuts, pretzels and bagged potato or corn chips – with an unprocessed snack is a great place to start,” Freirich suggested. Healthier alternatives include fresh fruit, lightly salted nuts, or vegetables with hummus.

“Replacing a few fast food meals with food prepared at home is also an excellent way to reduce your sodium intake by thousands of milligrams,” she added.

Palinski-Wade emphasized that most dietary sodium doesn’t come from the salt shaker but from ultra-processed and prepared foods. “Read the labels, monitor your intake, and fill your diet with foods that promote heart health, including whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes, and lean proteins,” she advised.

Health professionals agree that successfully lowering sodium intake can reduce the risk of not only high blood pressure and cognitive decline but also kidney and cardiovascular disease—highlighting the importance of dietary modifications for long-term health.