New research indicates that consuming less sugar during pregnancy and in the first years of life may lower the risk of developing dementia decades later.
The analysis examined health records of more than 64,000 individuals in the United Kingdom who were born before and after the end of national sugar rationing in 1953.
Participants with reduced sugar exposure before birth and during their first year showed a 21 % lower risk of dementia, while those whose intake remained limited through age two experienced a 23 % reduction.
Moreover, the onset of dementia occurred on average 2.6 years later among those with lower early‑life sugar exposure compared with higher‑exposure peers.
The study’s lead author highlighted that limiting sugar in the earliest stages of life could provide lasting benefits for brain health.
Critics note that many other factors, such as overall nutrition and calorie intake, differed between the cohorts, making it difficult to attribute the effect solely to sugar.
Current dietary guidance for pregnant women continues to recommend minimally processed foods—fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fermented dairy, and fish—while limiting ultra‑processed items high in sugar, starch, and salt.
Researchers stress that the findings demonstrate an association, not a direct causal link, and relied on historical rationing policies as a proxy for individual sugar consumption.
Limitations of the study include the inability to fully account for other differences between groups, preventing definitive conclusions about cause and effect.
