#Agingthai

A wave of new research is drawing attention to a troubling idea: ultra-processed foods may trigger addiction-like eating patterns in older adults. While critics debate how strongly we should label it “addiction,” the emerging consensus is that these industrially made foods—rich in refined sugars, fats, and salt—can hijack the brain’s reward system in ways that make portion control harder, especially for seniors whose nutritional needs and daily routines are changing. For Thai families and policymakers watching their aging population, the findings carry practical implications about diet quality, mental health, and the kinds of support older people need to stay healthy and independent.