Restricting sugar intake during pregnancy and in a child's first two years may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in old age by 46 percent, according to a study of over 60,000 Britons born during the post-war rationing era, reports infohub.kz.

In today's world, sugar is ubiquitous, but that hasn't always been the case. During World War II and for several years afterward, the United Kingdom imposed strict sugar rations. Children under two did not receive sugar rations.

After rationing ended in 1953, adult sugar consumption nearly doubled, providing scientists with a natural control group, as intentionally restricting an infant's diet in an experiment would be unethical.

Researchers examined medical records of over 60,000 people born between 1951 and 1956, registered in the UK Biobank, a large medical database. Participants were divided into three groups: those exposed to sugar restrictions before birth, those before birth and in early childhood, and a control group without restrictions. Then experts analyzed their medical charts.

Results showed that compared to the control group, those who restricted sugar in the first 1,000 days after conception had a 27 percent lower risk of developing dementia from any cause. Additionally, their risk of Alzheimer's disease was 46 percent lower, anxiety 20 percent lower, and depression 11 percent lower. No link to Parkinson's disease was found.

Next, scientists examined MRI scans to assess sugar's impact on the brain. After statistical adjustments for genetics and heredity, they found that those who experienced sugar restrictions had brains that appeared about 0.39 years younger than expected for their age.

"These quasi-experimental findings suggest that limiting sugar intake early in life is associated with slower neurobiological aging and reduced risk of dementia and mental disorders," the study authors wrote. They did not claim a definitive causal link and emphasized the need for further research in contemporary populations.

Earlier, Kursiv reported that the Almaty City Emergency Hospital introduced an innovative technology for treating Alzheimer's disease using the NEUROLITH device.