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According to Dr Sudhir Kumar, a breakthrough study published on July 22, 2026, in the Nature Partner Journals – ‘Early-life sugar rationing, brain ageing, and long-term neurodegenerative and psychiatric health outcomes’ – proved that avoiding or eliminating sugar during pregnancy and after the infant is born protects the long-term brain health.
The study leveraged the UK’s historical sugar rationing as a natural experiment to examine the first 1,000 days of life (from conception through age 2). According to the neurologist, the findings on lifelong brain health were striking.
Here are a few key things the study found after cutting sugar during pregnancy and the early childhood of an infant:
According to the neurologist, the MRI brain findings were amazing, too. “Brain MRI scans revealed decelerated brain ageing in those with early-life sugar restriction,” he added. There was:
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Future Forecast
Lastly, the neurologist cautioned expectant mothers and parents that the first 1,000 days lay the neurobiological foundation for life. Therefore, eliminating added and free sugars during pregnancy and avoiding introducing sugars for infants or toddlers protects cognitive and mental health over 50 years down the line.
Dr Sudhir Kumar is a veteran neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. With over 26 years of experience and qualifications including MBBS, MD (internal medicine), and DM (neurology), he treats a wide range of conditions such as dementia, ALS, cerebral palsy, back pain, Canavan disease, and more.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
