The interesting part of the research is that the authors identified a common player that might progress the development of chronic diseases: high uric acid levels.
Uric acid has historically been associated with gout. But more recently, there has been growing interest in the role of uric acid on the development of chronic diseases like metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer.
An interesting (imo) pop-medscience video by Dr. David Perlmutter - Uric Acid: A KEY Cause of Weight Gain, Diabetes, Heart Disease & Dementia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ6jPCcFNa8
My own journey may reflect this. I suffered from gout and also other worrisome blood work markers that indicated metabolic syndrome. I am now largely vegan, alcohol free and avoid sugar and processed food. I have not had a gout attack for a long time. Then in a recent blood test my uric acid was through the roof. My (excellent) doctor first wanted to raise the amount of allopurinol I was taking but I suffer from side effects and was reluctant. My doctor did some research and found that uric acid levels are raised during periods of weight loss.
So it’s complicated and not well understood.
With Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease, there is much uncertainty, agreed!
The second more proximate factor has been the dramatic rise in the intake of added sugars that contain fructose and glucose, such as *table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)*."
And...
"Interestingly, *whole fruits tend not to activate this pathway* owing to a relatively low fructose content in individual fruits and the presence of neutralizing factors (such as fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and flavanols) and because the small intestine metabolizes some fructose before it reaches the liver and brain."
So basically processed meats, table sugar & high-fructose corn syrup are bad for you. I'm shocked /s