00:00A new study suggests that eating less sugar early in life may be linked to lower dementia
00:04risk decades later. Researchers examined nearly 65,000 people born around World War II in the
00:11United Kingdom. The study took advantage of Britain's historic sugar rationing,
00:16which ended in 1953. Researchers compared people exposed to rationing before birth
00:21and during their first years of life. Those exposed through their first year had a 21%
00:27lower associated risk of dementia. For those exposed through age 2, the reduction was 23%.
00:33The researchers also found dementia was diagnosed an average of 2.6 years later.
00:38Brain scans from a smaller group showed greater gray matter volume among those with lower early
00:44sugar exposure. They also had fewer white matter hyperintensities, which can indicate brain tissue
00:50damage. However, researchers stressed that the study was observational and cannot prove that less sugar
00:56prevents dementia. Other health and lifestyle factors could also influence the results.
01:01The findings highlight the potential importance of early life nutrition, while further research
01:06is needed to confirm the connection. Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content
01:11created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
