A new study suggests that consuming less sugar during pregnancy and in the first couple of years of a child's life may lower their risk of developing dementia decades later. The research, published in the journal Neurology, links early-life sugar exposure to long-term brain health, adding to growing evidence that dietary habits established before and shortly after birth can have effects that persist well into old age.

The study found that people exposed to less sugar in the womb and during their first one to two years had up to a 23% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those born after sugar became widely available. Researchers reportedly took advantage of historical rationing periods to compare outcomes between people with differing early sugar exposure. The findings were discussed by Fox News medical analyst Dr Marc Siegel, who also raised concerns about rising daily caffeine consumption among children and teenagers from sources such as sweetened baked goods and soft drinks.