Mayo Clinic: Sugar-Rich Diets Linked To Cognitive Impairment In Seniors

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Mayo Clinic study has found a link between sugar-rich diets and brain function in seniors.

Mayo researchers tracked people over 70 and found that those with diets high in carbohydrates and sugar have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment.

"Sugar is good for your brain because you derive your energy from sugar," said lead author Dr. Rosebud Roberts. "Your brain derives its energy from sugar. But too much sugar is bad for your brain."

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murphy Reports

Too much can prevent the brain from using the sugar, which is similar to what happens with type 2 diabetes.

The study also finds that seniors who consume a lot of protein and fat are less likely to become impaired.

The Mayo findings appear in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

In:
• Mayo Clinic