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23h ago

SNAP Participation Tied to 10% Slower Cognitive Decline Over Ten Years

Presented at the Alzheimer’s Association conference, data show a 10% slower decline in cognitive performance among older SNAP users facing future benefit cuts under recently enacted funding rules

Among older adults who are eligible for SNAP benefits, participating in the program may help protect against age-related cognitive decline, suggests a new 10-year study. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The NIH-funded University of Georgia study tracked more than 2,300 adults aged 50 and older over ten years, comparing 1,100 SNAP participants with 1,200 eligible nonparticipants.
  • Researchers found that SNAP participants experienced a 10% slower annual rate of decline in cognitive scores, equivalent to two to three additional years of cognitive health over the study period.
  • The observational study, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto, has not yet undergone peer review and cannot establish causation.
  • President Trump’s mid-2025 legislation will cut $186 billion in SNAP funding through 2034, shift costs to states beginning in 2028 and expand work requirements for participants.
  • Advocates argue that reducing food assistance risks worsening cognitive health among older, low-income adults by increasing food insecurity and related stress.