Many people think of sugary snacks as harmless comfort foods, especially during stressful days or late-night cravings. However, growing research suggests that regularly consuming large amounts of added sugar may do more than increase your waistline or blood sugar levels. Scientists are increasingly examining how high sugar intake could affect brain health and potentially raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia later in life. Several large studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants have found links between diets high in sugar and increased dementia risk, particularly among older adults and women. While researchers caution that sugar alone does not directly “cause” Alzheimer’s, many experts now believe excessive sugar consumption may contribute to conditions that damage the brain over time.
