A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom has found that limiting sugar intake before the age of two is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing dementia later in life. The research analysed data from almost 65,000 individuals, revealing that early-life sugar rationing may lower dementia risk by more than 20%.
Experts propose that exposure to sugar during pregnancy and infancy could influence nutrient absorption and metabolic processes, potentially impacting long-term brain health. The study utilised data from the UK Biobank, which included participants who experienced sugar rationing imposed by the British government during and after the Second World War.
Sugar rationing in the UK began in 1940 and continued until 1953. Previous investigations within this cohort indicated that limited sugar intake in early childhood, and maternal sugar restriction during pregnancy, corresponded with decreased incidences of heart attacks, heart failure, and strokes.
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Published in the journal Neurology, the newest study examined 64,737 individuals born both before and after the sugar rationing period. Findings showed that those who experienced sugar rationing from conception until their first year of life had a 21% lower risk of dementia than those born following the rationing period. The risk reduction increased to 23% for individuals who had restricted sugar exposure up to age two. Moreover, participants with lower early sugar intake were diagnosed with dementia approximately 2.6 years later than others.
“Limiting sugar during the earliest stages of life may have lasting benefits for brain health,” said lead author Jiazhen Zheng from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou, China. “These findings underscore the potential significance of early nutrition in mitigating dementia risk decades downstream.”
Starting at an average age of 55, the researchers reviewed medical records over a 15-year span to identify dementia diagnoses. Of the 15,025 participants exposed to sugar rationing before and during their first year, 388 developed dementia. Among the 15,256 who experienced rationing before birth and through two years of age, 456 cases of dementia were recorded. In comparison, 504 out of 23,774 individuals born after the rationing era were diagnosed with the condition.
Adjusting for variables such as age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes, the team affirmed the association between early sugar limitation and a more than 20% reduction in dementia risk. Additionally, a subset of participants underwent brain scans, revealing that those exposed to reduced sugar early in life had greater total grey matter volume and fewer white matter hyperintensities, indicators of brain tissue damage.
Mr Zheng emphasised that while limiting added sugars during pregnancy and infancy might be a valuable strategy for families and communities, further research is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms involved and to inform public health policies.
Dr Sara Rodrigues, senior research manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, remarked: “Studies like this enhance our comprehension of how dementia risk unfolds throughout life and might guide future brain health strategies. However, as this was an observational study, it reveals associations rather than direct causation between sugar intake and dementia prevention.”
She added that the comprehensive Lancet Commission currently does not list sugar consumption as an independent dementia risk factor. More research is required to clarify the link between sugar and dementia development.
In the meantime, Alzheimer’s Research UK advises maintaining a healthy, balanced diet to support brain health at any age, encouraging positive dietary changes whenever possible.