A study published on August 2, 2026, in the journal Neurology found that people exposed to lower sugar intake before birth and during their first one to two years of life had up to a 23% lower risk of developing dementia decades later compared to those born after sugar became widely available again.

Researchers examined health records of more than 64,000 individuals in the United Kingdom born before and after World War II sugar rationing ended in 1953. Those with limited sugar intake before birth and through their first year had a 21% lower dementia risk, while those whose sugar intake remained limited through age two had a 23% lower risk.

Study author Jiazhen Zheng of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology stated, "Our findings suggest that limiting sugar during the earliest stages of life may have lasting benefits for brain health."

Marc Siegel highlighted the study's significance, noting that limiting sugar intake before age two can lower dementia risk by 23%. He also warned about rising caffeine consumption among children and teenagers from sources like sweet baked goods and soda.

However, Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, who was not involved in the study, cautioned against drawing firm conclusions, saying the research raises interesting questions but the findings are not convincing.

Mozaffarian added, "Ultimately, we know from other research that women who are pregnant should consume the healthiest foods possible for both their own health and that of their baby."

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