Early sugar reduction may cut dementia, depression risk

By Amber Dixon 12/08/2026 2 min read 23 views

New research links lower exposure to added sugar in the first 1,000 days of life with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, broader dementia, and later‑life depression and anxiety.

Study design leverages historic sugar rationing

The analysis drew on health records of more than 60,000 people from the U.K. Biobank who were born between 1951 and 1956. Researchers used the end of national sugar rationing in 1953 as a natural experiment, comparing individuals conceived while rationing was in effect with those born after it ended. This approach helped limit typical confounding factors such as socioeconomic status and lifestyle differences that often cloud nutrition studies.

“The first 1,000 days of life are a critical window for brain development, and early nutrition is known to have lasting effects on health,” said Bing Zhang, PhD, a geriatric medicine researcher at Guangzhou First People’s Hospital and senior author of the work, which appeared in npj Aging. “The end of sugar rationing in the U.K. in 1953 created a unique natural experiment.”

Key findings on dementia and mental health

Adults who experienced lower sugar intake during pregnancy and infancy showed a 46 % lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and a 27 % lower risk of all‑cause dementia compared with peers who grew up after rationing ended. The same group also demonstrated an 11 % reduction in depression risk and a 20 % drop in anxiety risk.

Brain imaging revealed that participants with early‑life sugar restriction had brains that appeared, on average, 0.39 years younger than their chronological age. They also exhibited larger volumes in the hippocampus and thalamus, regions essential for memory and early Alzheimer’s pathology.

“These imaging findings offer a plausible biological explanation for the reduced dementia risk,” Zhang explained. “A younger‑appearing brain and larger volumes in areas such as the hippocampus suggest enhanced brain structural integrity and greater cognitive reserve.”

These results could shape future nutrition policies.

In the broader context, the data echo earlier work showing that nutrition in the first years shapes the gut microbiome, immune function, and brain growth. The present results add a specific focus on added sugar, suggesting that early dietary policies could have long‑term public health implications.

Overall, the findings reinforce current guidelines that recommend limiting added sugars during pregnancy and infancy. As the global burden of dementia grows, identifying modifiable early‑life risk factors offers a realistic avenue for reducing future disease prevalence.