Can Consuming Sweets Increase The Risk Of Dementia As We Age?

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A popular witty quote goes like this, "I eat cake everyday because, it is someone's birthday somewhere!"

Now, if you are someone who can relate with the above quote, because you have a "sweet tooth" problem which makes you crave for sugary foods and sweets on a daily basis, then we may have some bad news!

According to a number of surveys conducted over the years, it has been noted that the number of people who like to consume sweet foods on a regular basis are more than those who do not like sweets at all!

So, you can only imagine how many people around the world are fans of sweet foods.

With the variety of sugary foods available today, like chocolates, traditional sweets, ice cream, milkshakes, cookies, etc., it can become extremely hard to resist our urge to indulge in them, especially when we go out!

And in counties like India, where there are a number of festivals and a higher number of sweets originating from each state, it becomes quite a chore to avoid sweets!

Now, we know that consuming a lot of sweets or other sugary foods can lead to health problems such as obesity, digestive problems, diabetes, teeth cavities, etc., right?

However, a recent research study has found that consuming excess sugar when you are younger can increase the risk of people developing dangerous degenerative diseases like dementia, during old age.

So, have a look at how excess sugar consumption can up the risk of dementia, in this article.

Link Between Excess Sugary Foods And Dementia
Now, as humans we all realise that as we grow older, no matter how hard we have tried to maintain good health, certain signs of ageing and certain health ailments are rather inevitable.

For example, after a certain age, grey hair, wrinkles, age-related fatigue, etc., cannot be avoided, even if we have maintained a healthy lifestyle.

However, there are definitely certain ailments that one can aim to avoid at an older age by following a healthy lifestyle when they are younger.

For instance, if we have consumed a balanced diet throughout our lives, exercised regularly to maintain a healthy weight, managed stress, etc., the chances of us being affected by high blood pressure and heart diseases are very low.

Now, we know that as we age, the cells in all organs of the body start to degenerate and these organs include the brain.

Dementia is one such age-related disease in which a person's brain cells begin to deteriorate at a fast rate and hinders the brain process like memory, cognition, thinking, social skills, etc.

This disease can seriously hinder the daily activities and normal life of a person.

Some of the main symptoms of dementia are memory loss, confusion, disorientation, inability to speak and understand, hallucination, depression, irritability, etc.

Now, a recent research study from The National Institute of Ageing in Maryland, USA, has stated that consuming excess sugary foods when younger can increase the risk of dementia in later life.

The study says that the high glucose levels found in sugary foods can get accumulated in your brain and gradually shrink the brain tissues, thereby causing degenerative diseases like dementia, as we age.

So, in conclusion, consuming excess sweets and sugary foods can, in fact, increase the risk of dementia as we age.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.