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ALZHEIMER'S SUGAR LINK

Adding sugar to tea or coffee can increase risk of the disease by more than half, study reveals

OAPs who put more than 2½ teaspoons a day in their cuppa were 54 per cent more likely to develop dementia than those who added none

ADDING sugar to tea or coffee can increase Alzheimer’s risk by more than half, a study found.

Fizzy drink and fruit juice fans are also more likely to have the brain-wasting condition.

Tea
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Sugar in your tea or coffee could increase risk of Alzheimer's diseaseCredit: Alamy

Researchers analysed the diets of 2,226 pensioners and tracked them for an average of seven years.

Those who consumed the most sugar in their drinks were at highest risk, whether it occurred naturally or was added.

OAPs who put more than 2½ teaspoons a day in their cuppa were 54 per cent more likely to develop dementia than those who added none.

Sprinkling that amount on cereal or puddings posed the same danger.

Fizzy drinks
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Fizzy drink fans are also at risk due to the heavy sugar contentCredit: Getty Images - Getty

People who downed more than half a can of pop a day were 47 per cent more likely to suffer than those who had less than 3½ a year. And one small juice a day was enough to increase the risk by 27 per cent.

Study leader Dr Yian Gu, of Columbia University, New York, said: “These findings suggest sugary beverages and other added sugar to beverages or food may increase Alzheimer’s risk.”

Dr Doug Brown, from Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This study suggests excess sugar may increas

A Sun Investigation sees seven-year-old Annie Axworthy wear a sugar cam to reveal what children see when they are going around the supermarket with their parents


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