This government program could slow cognitive decline—but recent cuts may leave your patients out
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"SNAP participation, or another similar nutrition support program, could significantly delay the onset of cognitive impairment or dementia, allowing people to preserve their ability to manage medications, finances and daily tasks longer […] ultimately support[ing] greater independence and higher quality of life in older adulthood.” — Linlin Da, PhD, Alzheimer's Association press release
A recent study presented at the July 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto has revealed that individuals who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—a federal government program that provides food benefits to low-income families—experienced slower cognitive decline over 10 years than nonparticipants.[]
Related: Will Trump’s SNAP restrictions make Americans healthier—or hungrier?About the study
The study compared 1,131 individuals enrolled in SNAP to 1,216 individuals who were eligible but did not participate in the program; the average age of all participants was 64 years.[]
Every 2 years between 2010 and 2020, participants were assessed for memory and executive function, including their ability to carry out tasks or make plans, via phone- or web-based interviews. Each person was given a cognitive score based on these assessments. Those whose initial cognitive scores indicated cognitive impairment or dementia were excluded from the study’s analysis.
Preserving cognition = Improved quality of life
Based on the assessments, SNAP participants experienced a 0.10% slower cognitive decline over the 10 years—equivalent to gaining 2 to 3 additional years of cognitive health.
Lead study author Linlin Da, PhD, says the findings suggest that “SNAP participation, or another similar nutrition support program, could significantly delay the onset of cognitive impairment or dementia, allowing people to preserve their ability to manage medications, finances and daily tasks longer … ultimately support[ing] greater independence and higher quality of life in older adulthood.”[][]
The findings come just weeks after the Trump administration signed legislation that is estimated to cut SNAP funding by $186 billion through 2034.[] Researchers now worry that cuts to the program—one that more than 41 million low-income individuals in the United States rely on each month—will result not only in inadequate access to food but also in negative impacts on cognitive function.[]
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