Limiting sugar in a mother's diet during pregnancy and a child's first two years of life reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease in old age by 46%. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
In the modern world, sugar is ubiquitous, but it was not always so. During World War II and for several years after, strict sugar rationing rules were in effect in the United Kingdom. Children under two years old did not receive sugar rations.
After the policy was abolished in 1953, adult sugar consumption nearly doubled. This provided scientists with a natural control group, as deliberately restricting an infant's diet in a study is unethical.
Researchers examined medical records of over 60,000 people born between 1951 and 1956 who are registered in the UK Biobank (a large medical database).
These individuals were divided into three groups: the first group experienced restrictions before birth, the second group before birth and in early childhood, and the third (control) group had no restrictions.
Experts then analyzed their medical records.
The results showed that compared to the control group (no restrictions), people who limited sugar intake during the first 1,000 days after conception had a 27% lower risk of developing dementia of any etiology. They also had a 46% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, a 20% lower risk of anxiety, and an 11% lower risk of depression. No association with Parkinson's disease was found.
Scientists then studied MRI scans to determine how sugar might affect the brain. After statistical adjustment for other factors such as genetics and heredity, they found that those who experienced sugar restrictions had brains that appeared approximately 0.39 years younger than expected for their age.
"These quasi-experimental results suggest that early-life sugar restriction is associated with slower neurobiological aging and reduced risk of dementia and mental disorders," the authors wrote in their paper.
Although the study shows a possible link between childhood nutrition and long-term brain health, the authors do not claim a definitive causal relationship. They emphasize that further research in modern populations is needed to confirm these findings.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that the Almaty City Emergency Hospital presented an innovative technology for treating Alzheimer's disease using the NEUROLITH device.