06/19/2026
Could too much "sugar coating" in the brain contribute to Alzheimer's disease?
A newly published study in Nature Metabolism suggests it might.
Researchers found that Alzheimer's disease was associated with increased production of complex sugar molecules that attach to proteins throughout the brain—a process known as hyperglycosylation. Think of it as proteins becoming excessively "sugar-coated."
In animal models, reducing this sugar-coating process improved memory performance. In contrast, increasing it through glucosamine supplementation worsened memory deficits. The researchers also reported that people with Alzheimer's disease who used glucosamine supplements appeared to experience faster disease progression and poorer survival outcomes.
This is early research, and it does not mean that eating sugar causes Alzheimer's disease. However, it highlights an emerging idea: the way our bodies process and use sugar may play an important role in brain health and neurodegenerative disease.
As research continues, we are learning that metabolism, inflammation, and brain function may be more closely connected than previously thought.
Reference (see link in comments): Hawkinson TR, Liu Z, Ribas RA, et al. Hyperglycosylation is a metabolic driver of Alzheimer's disease. Nature Metabolism. 2026.
