We all find it difficult to give up a piece of cake or chocolate. However, we should be more aware that excessive sugar consumption is directly linked to risks for mental and brain health. According to studies from Harvard Medical School, it is essential to control the amount of sugar we consume, as it has a direct impact on brain functions, such as thinking, memory, and learning, which directly depend on blood glucose levels. Additionally, studies conducted by the German Society of Neurology and the German Brain Foundation indicate that sugar is harmful to cognitive function and the central nervous system.
The brain interprets the presence of sugar as energy and well-being, acting as a reward that generates a sensation of pleasure. However, an excess of blood glucose alters neuronal plasticity and affects the hippocampus, increasing the risks of developing diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular problems. It is not just about consuming sugar in excess, but about consuming it in general, as studies from the Max Planck Institute and Yale University have shown that the brain can be modified by foods that contain sugar and fat.
Marc Tittgemeyer, the leader of the research, demonstrated how the brain interprets a greater cerebral reward and loses self-control due to prolonged consumption of sugar, to which Dr. Lucía Correa de Ruiz added that the damage can be chronic, increasing the production of beta-amyloid, which is directly associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. For his part, the president of the German Brain Foundation, Dr. Frank Erbguth, emphasizes the need to control sugar consumption, as the brain needs glucose, but an excess of it can harm it.
Sugar consumption
Sugar is increasingly present in virtually all the foods we consume, especially those that are not naturally derived, so we must be aware of how it affects our bodies. Sugar has the ability to provide the brain with instant pleasure, which it also interprets as energy. However, excessive sugar consumption directly affects aspects such as memory, learning, and neuronal function.
Educate the brain
The more we reinforce the brain’s idea that consuming sugar is the way to generate pleasure, gradually, it will become the only way to achieve it, displacing healthier and more favorable options. According to the German Society of Neurology and the German Brain Foundation, excessive sugar consumption directly impacts the brain, damaging the central nervous system and cognitive function. Memory and learning develop thanks to neuronal plasticity and the hippocampus.
Excess glucose alters these parts, thereby increasing the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular problems. As experts from Harvard Medical School explain, thinking, memory, and learning depend on the amount of glucose in the blood. When this level is low, neurotransmitters (responsible for communication between neurons) cannot reproduce. This is what happens in people with diabetes: hypoglycemia, which can cause loss of strength, fatigue, and cognitive and mental difficulties.
Does it always depend on the amount of sugar?
Although some studies focus on the excessive consumption of sugar, studies from the Max Planck Institute and Yale University indicate that even small amounts of foods containing fat and sugar can alter the brain. Dr. Marc Tittgemeyer, the lead researcher, demonstrated that it is not just about the quantity, but about prolonged sugar consumption. His study has shown that it leads to greater brain reward and loss of self-control. To this, Dr. Lucía Correa de Ruiz added that excess generates chronic damage to the brain, affecting concentration, memory, and cognitive performance.
In fact, patients suffering from diabetes are informed about the consequences of having high glucose levels, which increases the production of beta-amyloid, directly associated with the degeneration of brain vessels, raising the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. For his part, the president of the German Brain Foundation, Frank Erbguth, explains it in the following way: “The dose makes the poison. The brain needs glucose, but excess damages it. The key is to maintain a balanced diet, preventing sweets from becoming an enemy of mental well-being.”