What is the connection between dementia and sweets? The following study has the answers

A historical observational study conducted in the UK points to a surprising link between limited sugar consumption in the first years of life and a reduced risk of developing dementia in adulthood. The study examined the long-term effects of the country's sugar rationing period between 1945 and 1953. According to Prof. Eitan Friedman, director of the Institute for Early Detection Genetics at Assuta Ramat HaHayal, the key finding is that for those born during that time period, or who were in their first two years of life, the chances of developing dementia in old age were lower than usual.

However, Friedman emphasizes the importance of interpreting the findings cautiously.

"The study is not an interventional study; it is an observational study based on history," he explains in an interview with "HaOlam HaBoker" ("The Morning World").

This means the study points to a statistical correlation and not a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, he warns against drawing simplistic conclusions: "To say a sentence like 'sugar causes Alzheimer's' is misleading the public," he states unequivocally.

How many sweets should a child eat per day? According to Friedman — as few as possible. He provided a balanced view on the place of sugar in the diet: "Sugar is not a healthy food. It is a food that contains many 'empty calories'; it should be limited, especially sugar that is ultra-processed, but it is not the devil incarnate."

Beyond the recommendation for restriction, Friedman suggests that parents adopt a broader approach, focusing on building healthy eating habits for the long term. He advises negotiating with children instead of engaging in power struggles, based on the understanding that proper nutrition is not built on sweeping prohibitions. The key is a balanced diet and avoiding extremes, both in sugar consumption and in other foods.