A sweet childhood and Alzheimer's risk: an unexpected link revealed by a historical experiment
Sugar intake during pregnancy and the first two years of life can determine brain health decades later. A large-scale study showed that limiting added sugar in the first 1,000 days of life is associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease in adulthood.
Key findings of the study:
- Unique database: Scientists analyzed data from more than 60,000 participants of the UK Biobank project born between 1951 and 1956.
- A "natural experiment": Researchers compared people who experienced post‑war sugar rationing in the UK in early childhood with those who grew up during a period of free sale.
- Impressive difference: Those who were under sugar restrictions from conception up to the age of two had a 46% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and a 27% lower risk of dementia.
How does sugar in infancy affect the brain?
Scientists observed changes not only in cognitive disorders but also in the brain's structure. In people who experienced early sugar restriction, the estimated "brain age" was roughly 0.39 years less than the chronological age, and the volume of the hippocampus – the area responsible for memory – was larger.
Furthermore, researchers found a link with emotional health: the risk of depression in these participants was 11% lower, and of anxiety disorders – 20% lower.
Why should we treat these results with caution?
The authors of the work and independent experts emphasize that it is a statistical association, not direct proof that avoiding sweets altogether prevents Alzheimer's disease. Because this was a historical analysis rather than a controlled medical experiment, the results could have been influenced by other lifestyle factors.
Nevertheless, the findings echo the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which advises completely excluding drinks with added sugar for children under two years and strictly limiting free sugars in the diet overall.
Based on materials from: Medical News Today, npj Aging, World Health Organization
