Excessive Sugar Increases Susceptibility to Alzheimer’s Disease

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is characterized by a decline in cognitive ability and memory due to chemical changes in the brain. While people who are older than 65 have a relatively high dementia risk, another significant cause is excessive sugar in the bloodstream, either due to high sugar consumption or diabetes.

Sugar is necessary for the proper functioning of the brain, and healthy carbohydrate consumption is enough to supply the brain with the required energy. High levels of sugar in the blood do the opposite. One common cause of excessive sugar in the blood is alcohol consumption since alcohol is a form of sugar.

High blood sugar levels impair communication between brain cells, which can contribute to Alzheimer’s. Excessive sugar can also cause another form of dementia known as vascular dementia, which occurs when high blood sugar restricts blood flow in tiny blood vessels in the brain. Inadequate blood flow to the brain leads to starvation of brain cells and consequent shrinkage of affected brain parts.

Avoiding excess sugar consumption can help reduce the risk of developing dementia. This is achievable through a healthy diet including little to no consumption of alcohol.