Less sugar in early childhood may pay off decades later
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Limiting sugar exposure during the first two years of life may have lasting benefits for brain and mental health. In a study of more than 60,000 people, researchers used World War II-era sugar rationing in the United Kingdom as a natural experiment to examine the long-term effects of early sugar exposure. Those exposed to sugar restrictions after birth had a 46% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and a 27% lower risk of dementia from any cause later in life. Lower early-life sugar intake was also linked to reduced risks of depression and anxiety.
Source
C. Zhu, & W. Zhang, Early-life sugar restriction causally reduces adult cancer incidence and slows biological aging, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 123 (32) e2610287123, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2610287123 (2026).
Additional Reading
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/08/260824065522.htm
https://www.newsweek.com/what-you-eat-before-age-2-may-affect-your-health-70-years-later-12379031