For years, health professionals have cautioned against the consumption of potato chips, cookies, and sodas, warning that these snacks can lead to weight gain, contribute to heart disease, and potentially shorten lifespans.

Adding to the list of potential risks, a recent study suggests these popular treats might also impair cognitive functions and thinking abilities. The research, conducted in Australia, scrutinized the diets of 2,200 middle-aged individuals to determine the impact of their eating habits on cognitive health.

The study specifically examined the participants’ intake of ultra-processed foods. Although there’s no universally accepted definition for ultra-processed foods, they are generally characterized by having more than five ingredients or including at least one component not commonly found in a standard kitchen.

Diets were checked for consumption of ultra-processed foods. 

There is no universal definition of ultra-processed foods but they are widely thought to be those with more than five ingredients or foods that contain at least one ingredient not found in a typical kitchen.

Overall, they found that those who ate more ultra-processed foods had a worse ability to focus and poorer cognitive health.

For every 10 percent increase in ultra-processed foods in a participant’s diet – equivalent to one ‘standard’ packet of potato chips a day – the researchers said they had lower attention spans and a higher score of dementia risk factors.

That shift was recorded regardless of what else the participants ate, and whether they followed an otherwise healthy diet.  

For every 10 percent increase in ultra-processed foods – one ‘standard’ packet of potato chips a day -participants had lower attention spans and a higher score of dementia risk factors (stock image) 

Dr Barbara Cardoso, a nutritional biochemist at Monash University who led the research, said: ‘To put our findings in perspective, a 10 percent increase in ultra-processed foods is roughly equivalent to adding a standard packet of chips to your daily diet.

‘For every 10 percent increase in ultra-processed food a person consumed, we saw a distinct and measurable drop in a person’s ability to focus. In clinical terms, this translated to consistently lower scores on standardized cognitive tests measuring visual attention and processing speed.’

The study did not elaborate on why the foods harm brain health, but the researchers said processing may remove vital nutrients and add dangerous chemicals that can damage the brain. 

The researchers noted that the foods may contain acrylamide, a compound that forms in starchy foods during high-temperature cooking such as frying or roasting, that can damage neurons or blood vessels.

Previous research has also shown ultra-processed foods may contain phthalates or bisphenols, chemicals that can enter the food during processing, which can also be potentially harmful.

In the paper, they warned the chemicals could cause cerebrovascular lesions – or tiny areas of damaged brain tissue caused by an insufficient blood supply due to damage to a blood vessel. 

The scientists said that these small areas of damage may harm brain function, potentially leading to problems with focus and attention span – and raising the risk of suffering from dementia.

Ultra-processed foods are also linked to a higher risk of being obese or having high blood pressure or diabetes, which can also raise the risk of dementia – which currently affects 7 million Americans.

The study was observational and could not prove that ultra-processed foods were causing dementia.  

Today, about 53 percent of all calories consumed by adults in the US come from ultra-processed foods. Among children, nearly 62 percent of calories consumed come from these foods.

In the study, published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, participants got about 41 percent of their calories from processed food, which was about average for Australia.

The most common sources were dairy-based desserts and drinks, soft drinks, fruit juices and other sugar-sweetened beverages. 

Others included packaged salty snacks and potato products, processed meat and ready meals.

Participants were interviewed between 2016 and 2023 about their diet and then asked to complete cognitive tests. 

Most were female, and they were 56 years old on average, but ranged in age from 40 to 70 years old. All lived in Australia. 

Researchers only interviewed the participants once, and then used an analysis to establish the impact of eating more ultra-processed foods over time. 

Cardoso added: ‘Food ultra-processing often destroys the natural structure of food and introduces potentially harmful substances like artificial additives or processing chemicals.

‘These additives suggest the link between diet and cognitive function extends beyond just missing out on foods known as healthy, pointing to mechanisms linked to the degree of food processing itself.’

The researchers did not find a link between ultra-processed food consumption and memory loss. They said this may be because areas of the brain linked to attention span and focus are more vulnerable to environmental stressors.

Ultra-processed foods became ubiquitous in the US in the 1980s, around the same time that rates of obesity and chronic diseases started to rise.

But they are a very broad category of foods that is poorly defined. There is no official definition in the US.

While many studies have warned about their health risks, some experts have pushed back on warnings over them, saying that just because something is ultra-processed it does not necessarily mean that it is bad for you.

While some foods may be considered ultra-processed because of their ingredient count, some actually have lower levels of fats and salts – which may help lower the risk of heart conditions, and higher protein levels, which have been linked to better overall health.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has urged Americans to eat fewer ultra-processed foods and in a new food pyramid released by the FDA in January, health officials urged Americans to ‘significantly limit’ their consumption of the foods to boost their health.

In a tragic case that has garnered significant attention, an Iowa woman passed away following what was supposed to be a routine hernia surgery. Laura Belt, aged 46, succumbed to complications arising from a bowel perforation that led to sepsis. Her family claims that hospital staff dismissed her severe post-operative symptoms as “normal,” which they assert contributed to her untimely death.

The incident took place at Decatur County Hospital, where Belt was recovering from her surgery. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, her family has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Edwin Vincent Wehling and two registered nurses, Brandi Oesch and Tammy Roberts, accusing them of medical malpractice. The lawsuit also implicates Decatur County Hospital as a defendant, alleging negligence in their duty of care.

In a parallel development, the Iowa Board of Medicine has filed charges against Dr. Wehling, citing “professional incompetency” and conduct that is “harmful and detrimental to the public.” These serious charges underline the gravity of the situation and the potential lapses in medical care that Belt received.

A hearing to address the disciplinary charges against Dr. Wehling is slated for September, where further light may be shed on the circumstances surrounding this tragic death. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of vigilant post-operative care and the need for medical professionals to heed patient concerns with due seriousness.

A board hearing on the disciplinary charges is scheduled for September.

Wehling operated on Belt, while Oesch and Roberts handled her recovery, after she came in for a hernia repair surgery at Decatur County Hospital, according to the lawsuit, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported.

After the surgery, Belt allegedly told staff she felt “very uncomfortable” and “very anxious and tearful” as she suffered from “constant drainage” of “significant amounts of feculent, brown liquid” pouring out of her incision site.

Belt also allegedly had not had a bowel movement since the surgery, according to the outlet.

Belt was discharged from the hospital a week after the hernia operation. The incision site was still leaking more than a week after she was discharged, according to the complaint.

The woman texted images of the brown liquid to Roberts.

The brown liquid was determined to be stool, and the nurses assured her that this was nothing abnormal, according to the complaint.

“Consulted with Brandi, she states all is normal … Brandi stated incision will drain like this for at least a month,” Roberts texted Belt on May 9, 2024.

The day after the exchange with Roberts, Belt’s family says she had a video call with Oesch and showed her the brown fluid still pouring from the wound, but she was allegedly not told to seek emergency medical care.

On May 11, 2024, Belt was taken by ambulance to the Wayne County Hospital’s Emergency Department, where she was told her incision site was showing signs of dead, necrotic tissue along with “constant drainage” of stool, and she was diagnosed as being in septic shock in connection with an infection stemming from hernia repair, according to the lawsuit.

Two days later, Oesch allegedly added a back-charted entry into Belt’s electronic medical record at Decatur County Hospital, affirming she had the video call with Belt and indicated that the woman was crying and that fluid had poured out of her wound onto the bathroom floor during the call.

“This nurse advised I would call Dr. Wehling and advise. This nurse notified Dr. Wehling and he requested (the antibiotic) Bactrim to be started,” Oesch wrote, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit claims no Bactrim prescription was ever ordered.

Belt died on May 15, 2024, and Wehling, Oesch and Roberts have all denied any wrongdoing.

Wehling has claimed that the cause of Belt’s injuries and complications “may have been a pre-existing medical condition and/or a subsequently occurring medical condition for which (he) is not responsible,” according to Iowa Capital Dispatch.

A trial has been scheduled for Aug. 23.

There’s a unique allure to reclining in a lie-flat seat high above the clouds, indulging in the luxury of extra space, attentive service, and gourmet meals that accompany a first-class, business-class, or even premium economy ticket.

But that blissful experience can abruptly vanish when you’re informed that your seat is no longer available.

Although not a frequent occurrence, involuntary downgrades can affect any traveler. Such downgrades are often the result of overbooking or unexpected changes to the aircraft, though this situation is relatively rare among major airlines.

For those who have invested hundreds, or even thousands, in premium seating, the disappointment transcends mere financial loss. It also signifies forfeiting comfort, much-needed rest, and, for some, critical accessibility features.

Here are eight reasons why downgrades might occur, along with some steps you can take if you find yourself facing this unfortunate scenario.

Overbooking 

According to AirAdvisor CEO Anton Radchenko, who was downgraded twice in 2023, the most common reason for an involuntary downgrade is overbooking. 

Airlines often sell more tickets than there are seats on planes as a strategy to make more money, relying on passengers who either miss their flight or cancel at the last minute in order to keep the plane full.

Being asked to downgrade from a first or business class seat can be a nightmare scenario – but why does it happen and what steps can you take if it happens to you?

However, if too many passengers arrive, some may either be denied boarding and bumped to other flights, or may be required to downgrade their seat.

Aircraft change 

Last-minute changes to aircraft can also result in passengers being asked to downgrade.

Airlines occasionally have to swap aircraft at short notice due to maintenance and operational issues, or lack of staff. 

Industry analysts also note that ongoing fleet and engine issues – such as those affecting the availability of long-haul aircraft – have forced airlines to reshuffle routes and equipment, sometimes at the last minute. 

The replacement aircraft may have fewer premium seats or an entirely different cabin design, forcing airlines to downgrade passengers even if they booked months in advance.

In March 2026, I was asked to downgrade from Premium Economy on a Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow from VC Bird International Airport in Antigua, after the aircraft was changed.

I accepted in return for a Select voucher, which can be exchanged for either a Premium return ticket on any flight operated by Virgin Atlantic, or 75,000 Virgin Points.

Lack of disabled access

Unfortunately, some airlines have downgraded disabled passengers due to lack of space. 

In one recent case involving British Airways, a passenger with paralysis was forced to endure an ‘uncomfortable, painful and undignified’ journey after being downgraded from business class on a long-haul flight from Cape Town to Spain. 

Speaking to The Times, the plane passenger’s daughter said he was informed the aircraft could not accommodate disabled passengers in business class and was subsequently reassigned to premium economy – where the seating lacked the space, recline and accessibility he required. 

He later received a refund from British Airways, who said: ‘We’re very sorry that the level of service our customer received on this occasion fell short of expectations. 

‘We’ve investigated and shared learnings with our third-party handlers to prevent this from happening again and we are in touch with our customer to help put things right.’

Operational requirements 

Airlines sometimes need to reallocate seats for operational or safety reasons. 

This can include accommodating crew rest areas on long-haul flights, repositioning staff, or ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

In the recent case concerning the disabled passenger flying from Cape Town, the downgrade came as a result of aircraft restrictions and handling decisions at the airport, rather than a booking error.

Broken seat

Broken seats that are considered unsafe or unsuitable can also result in passengers being downgraded to economy 

Seats in premium cabins are complex pieces of equipment, particularly lie-flat business class pods with electronic controls. 

When one breaks – whether it’s the recline mechanism, seatbelt system or in-flight entertainment – it may be considered unsafe or unsuitable for use. 

When cabin crew are unable to fix these issues before or during a flight, airlines are left with limited options. If no equivalent seat is available, the passenger may be asked to sit in a lower cabin. 

An Air India passenger flying from Delhi to Melbourne told Traveller of how he was downgraded from business to economy due to a broken seat in December 2025.

Anthony Harvey, from Victoria, Australia, said he and his wife had scanned their boarding passes at the gate when they were informed one of the two seats they had booked could not be used.

As there were no other business class seats available on the flight, Anthony was forced to sit in economy, and waited more than seven weeks for a refund from the airline.  

Missed connections and late check-in 

Teacher Iona Delgado, now 53, pictured with her husband Andres, 53, and their two children, Luis and Cristina. Iona was bumped off an overbooked flight to Alicante at the last minute in 2017 

When passengers miss a connecting flight – often due to delays beyond their control – they are typically rebooked onto the next available service. 

However, availability in the same cabin class is not always guaranteed. 

This can be particularly problematic during peak travel periods, when premium cabins are already full. Passengers may potentially be downgraded simply because there are no equivalent seats left on alternative flights.

Passengers who check in late may also be asked to downgrade if a flight is oversold. 

In many cases, airlines sell more tickets than seats to cover no-shows. However, if all passengers show up, the airline may apply a ‘last-come, first-served’ policy, where those who check in last are prioritised for downgrading or denied boarding altogether.

A mother-of-two revealed how her long-awaited family holiday was ruined in 2017 when she was bumped off an overbooked flight at the last minute. 

Teacher Iona Delgado, now 53, had been due to fly from Cardiff to Alicante with her husband Andres, 53, and their two children, Luis and Cristina, for the half-term break on 28 May.

But when the family arrived to check-in with Spanish no-frills airline Vueling, they were told one of them would not be able to travel as there were not enough seats.

After being placed on stand-by, Mrs Delgado was eventually told at the gate that she could not board, leaving her husband and children to fly on to Spain without her.

At the time, a representative for Vueling said: ‘We always want to ensure that customers travelling with Vueling have an enjoyable experience.

‘We take customer complaints very seriously and our customer services team is currently looking into the matter at hand.’ 

Weight and balance 

Though less frequent, aircraft weight and balance considerations can also play a role in passengers being asked to downgrade. 

For safe take-off and landing, pilots must ensure passengers and cargo are distributed correctly.

On smaller aircraft or heavily loaded flights, airlines may need to move passengers between cabins to maintain balance.

In rare cases, this can result in downgrades – particularly if certain sections of the aircraft become restricted.

Under UK and EU passenger rights rules – referred to as UK261 – passengers who are involuntarily downgraded are entitled to a partial refund for the affected part of their journey.

The refund ranges from 30 per cent to 75 per cent of the ticket price, depending on the flight distance, and applies regardless of why the downgrade occurred. 

What are your rights if you’ve been asked to downgrade? 

Operational requirements, like accommodating crew rest areas or ensuring compliance with safety regulations, can also result in a passenger being asked to downgraded 

According to AirAdvisor CEO Radchenko, the most crucial thing to do, if you’re asked to downgrade on a flight, is to document everything.

He recommends being proactive in seeking as much information as possible, and to be aware of your rights.

In order to secure the compensation they’re legally entitled to, passengers should retain evidence to back up a claim – such as photos of the new seat, boarding passes and all records of communication.

Some airlines may push back or deny compensation to passengers who cannot physically prove the downgrade occurred, and refunds for involuntary downgrades can be tricky as airline pricing continuously fluctuates.

Acting quickly not only creates a paper trail, but increases the chances of a successful claim under passenger protection regulations, like UK261 or EU261, and avoids being stranded if alternative travel is required. 

Tom Vaughan, Confused.com travel insurance expert, comments: ‘Flights are costing more than ever before, and for those who are paying extra for premium seats, it can be even more frustrating when something out of your control happens and your seat is downgraded. 

‘Not only is the cost an issue, but this could also be a big problem for those with specific accessibility requirements.

‘Fortunately, under UK law (UK261), passengers do have clear rights. If you’re moved to a lower class than booked, the airline must refund part of your ticket price for that leg of the journey, ranging from 30 per cent to 75 per cent depending on the flight distance. 

‘This refund applies regardless of why the downgrade happened. Unlike delays or cancellations, airlines cannot refuse this payment by pointing to circumstances outside their control like weather issues.

‘To claim, all you need to do is contact the airline directly and provide details, such as your booking confirmation and boarding pass. 

‘If you don’t get a response or your claim is rejected, you can take it further through an independent dispute resolution service. Knowing your rights and what you’re entitled to will make it easier to challenge the situation and avoid losing out financially.’