Less sugar early in life may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's

by Paul Arnold, Medical Xpress

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edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan

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Sugar restriction during the first 1,000 days after conception may significantly reduce a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's by up to 46%. Those are the findings of a new study published in the journal npj Aging that examined the long-term effects of early-life nutrition on brain aging and lifelong mental health. The findings also suggest that some benefits may begin before birth.

Sugar rationing

Sugar is ubiquitous in our modern world, and many pregnant women and children consume diets with plenty of added sugars. However, it hasn't always been this way. During World War II and for several years afterward, sugar was heavily rationed in the United Kingdom. Children under age 2 did not receive a sugar ration.

After the policy ended in September 1953, adult sugar consumption almost doubled. This has given scientists a natural test group to follow because it is unethical to intentionally restrict a baby's diet for a study.

Researchers in China studied the health records of 60,394 people born between 1951 and 1956 who are enrolled in the UK Biobank, a large medical database.

These individuals were divided into three groups based on whether rationing covered their time in the womb only, their time in the womb plus early childhood, or neither period, which served as the control group.

To find out what happened to their health in later life, the research team analyzed their medical records and self-reported health conditions stored in the biobank.

Risk reductions

The results showed that compared with the non-rationed control group, people with sugar restriction during the first 1,000 days after conception had a 27% lower risk of developing dementia from any cause. They also had a 46% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's, a 20% lower risk of anxiety and an 11% lower risk of depression. No association was found for Parkinson's disease.

The scientists then looked at MRI scans of a subset of 9,053 individuals to see how sugar might have affected the brain. After statistically adjusting for other influences, such as genetics and family history, they found that those who experienced rationing had brains that appeared, on average, about 0.39 years younger than expected for their age.

"These quasi-experimental findings suggest that early-life sugar restriction is associated with attenuated neurobiological aging and lower risks of dementia and psychiatric disorders," wrote the authors in their paper.

Some brain regions were also larger, including the hippocampus and thalamus, which are involved in memory and other cognitive functions.

While the research shows a possible association between early-life nutrition and long-term brain health, the authors are not jumping ahead of themselves and claiming a definitive causal link. More work will have to be done in modern populations to confirm these results.

"These findings require replication in contemporary cohorts with detailed early-life dietary assessments before informing clinical or public health recommendations."

Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

Publication details

Xingji Lian et al, Early-life sugar rationing, brain aging, and long-term neurodegenerative and psychiatric health outcomes: a population-based natural experiment study, npj Aging (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41514-026-00452-z

Journal information: npj Aging

Key medical concepts

Alzheimer's DiseaseDementiaAnxietyDepressionHippocampus

Clinical categories

NeurologyChildren's healthPediatricsPreventive medicineCommon illnesses & PreventionHealthy living Who's behind this story?

Paul Arnold

BSc Biology from University of London. BBC documentary producer with world travel experience. Freelances from southern Spain. Full profile →

Lisa Lock

BA art history, MA material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic, and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021. Full profile →

Robert Egan

Bachelor's in mathematical biology, Master's in creative writing. Well-traveled with unique perspectives on science and language. Full profile →

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Citation: Less sugar early in life may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's (2026, July 29) retrieved 30 July 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-sugar-early-life-alzheimer.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.