2026-07-30 13:01:22
Limiting sugar during pregnancy and the first two years of life could reduce the risk of dementia by almost a quarter, according to new research.
Scientists who studied more than 65,000 Britons born in the 1940s and 1950s during the Second World War sugar rationing found those exposed to less sugar as babies were significantly less likely to develop the memory-robbing disease later in life.
The study also found that people who did go on to develop dementia experienced symptoms an average of 2.6 years later than those who had higher sugar intake in early life.
Researchers analysed people born before and after Britain’s sugar rationing ended in September 1953.
During rationing, which began in 1940, sugar was limited to around 8oz (227g) per person each week.
The team tracked 64,737 people using medical records to identify dementia diagnoses between the ages of 55 and 70.
People exposed to sugar rationing before birth and during their first year of life had a 21 per cent lower risk of dementia than those born after rationing ended.
The protective effect increased to 23 per cent for those whose sugar intake remained restricted until the age of two.
Brain scans also revealed those with lower early-life sugar intake had greater grey matter volume and fewer signs of brain tissue damage linked to dementia.
Dr Jiazhen Zheng, of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou, said: “Our findings suggest that limiting sugar during the earliest stages of life may have lasting benefits for brain health.
“These results highlight the potential importance of early-life nutrition in reducing the risk of dementia decades later.”
He added: “Limiting added sugars during pregnancy and infancy may be one beneficial step that families and communities can take, but further research is needed to better understand how these early exposures influence dementia risk and to guide public health strategies.”
The findings, published in the journal Neurology, build on earlier studies showing the same group had lower rates of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure after growing up with less sugar.
However, experts urged caution.
Dr Sara Rodrigues, senior research manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “However, it’s important to remember that this was an observational study.
“This means it can identify links between diet and dementia risk, but it cannot prove that eating less sugar directly prevents dementia.
“Eating a healthy, balanced diet is one of the best ways to support your brain health and it’s never too late to make positive changes.”
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