A new study led by the American Academy of Neurology has found a link between sugar consumption in early life and the risk of developing dementia in old age, researchers revealed in a press release.
The research, recently published in the journal Neurology, took advantage of a historical event. Sugar rationing in the United Kingdom during World War II and in the years that followed.
Based on this context, the authors reviewed the medical records of 64,737 people. Dividing them into three groups: those who were exposed to rationing during pregnancy and their first year of life. Those exposed until age two; and those born after sugar rationing had ended. Participants were followed for 15 years starting at age 55 to record dementia diagnoses.
The results showed that of the 15,025 people who experienced rationing until their first birthday, 388 developed dementia. Of the 15,256 who experienced it until their second birthday, 456 did. While of the 23,774 born without rationing, 504 developed it.
After applying factors such as age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes to the study. Also they found that the risk of dementia was 21 percent lower in the first group and 23 percent lower in the second. Compared to those born without rationing.
“Our findings suggest that limiting sugar during the early stages of life can have lasting benefits for brain health.” Says author Jiazhen Zheng, from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou, China. “These results highlight the potential importance of nutrition in early life for reducing the risk of dementia decades later,” he adds.
Meanwhile, an MRI analysis of a subgroup of participants revealed that those who consumed less sugar in the early years had a greater volume of gray matter. And lower levels of hyperintensities in the white matter, a marker of brain tissue damage.
Despite the promising results, scientists emphasize that the study is observational and only shows an association, not a causal relationship.
With information from RT.com
- A previously unknown mineral surpasses gold in value in Russia - 2 de August de 2026
- Prime Minister Attends People’s Power Assembly in Gibara - 2 de August de 2026
- Cuba in Santo Domingo: Eighth matchday of the Central American Games - 2 de August de 2026