Limiting a child's sugar consumption until the age of two could potentially reduce their risk of developing dementia later in life, according to a study published in the journal Neurology.
The findings suggest that pregnant women who avoid sugary foods and drinks may also help decrease their child's risk of the memory-robbing disease by up to 20 percent. Conversely, consuming very little sugar in early life appears to offer some protection against dementia.
"Our findings suggest that limiting sugar during the earliest stages of life may have lasting benefits for brain health," said Professor Jiazhen Zheng, the study's lead author. "These results highlight the potential importance of early-life nutrition in reducing the risk of dementia decades later."
Researchers from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology analyzed the medical records of 64,737 individuals born before and after World War II sugar rationing in the UK. Participants were categorized based on their exposure to sugar during different prenatal and early childhood periods. The team then tracked dementia diagnoses over 15 years, starting when participants reached an average age of 55.
Among the participants who had no access to sugar before birth and during their first two years of life, only two percent developed dementia. The study found that those who experienced sugar rationing had a risk of dementia up to 23 percent lower compared to those born after 1953, when sugar became more widely available. Individuals with lower early-life sugar consumption also developed dementia approximately two and a half years later than those who consumed more sugar.
Brain scans of participants with limited early sugar intake revealed less brain tissue damage and more total grey matter, which has been associated with better cognitive function and memory.
Professor Zheng concluded that limiting added sugars during pregnancy and infancy could be a beneficial step for families and communities. However, he noted that further research is necessary to fully understand the mechanisms by which early-life exposures influence dementia risk.
While the study does not definitively prove a direct causal link between reduced sugar intake and dementia prevention, the findings align with a growing body of evidence suggesting sugar's impact on brain function. Experts note that the brain is highly sensitive to blood sugar fluctuations. Elevated blood sugar levels have been linked to a significantly increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, potentially by damaging blood vessel linings that supply oxygen to the brain and by altering proteins into toxic forms that harm brain cells.
Maternal health also plays a role, with conditions like obesity in pregnant women increasing the likelihood of diabetes in offspring, a known risk factor for dementia. Dementia, which affects memory, cognitive skills, and problem-solving abilities, is caused by damage to brain cells and is a leading cause of death in the UK.
These findings emerge amidst concerns about infant nutrition, including a past report where some health advice suggested weaning babies onto foods like biscuits, crisps, and chocolate. Obesity, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity are identified as leading risk factors for dementia.