Limiting sugar during pregnancy and the first two years of life could reduce the risk of dementia by almost a quarter, according to new research. Researchers analysed people born before and after Britain's sugar rationing ended in September 1953. People exposed to sugar rationing before birth and during their first year of life had a 21 per cent lower risk of dementia than those born after rationing ended. The protective effect increased to 23 per cent for those whose sugar intake remained restricted until the age of two. “This means it can identify links between diet and dementia risk, but it cannot prove that eating less sugar directly prevents dementia.