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Quiz: Your Brain on Sugar

How does eating lots of the sweet stuff affect your brain health?

By

Stacy Lu

 
Updated March 05, 2026
Updated March 05, 2026
Sugar cubes forming a frowning face on a peach background
Larry Washburn/Getty Images

This quiz was written with the help of  AI. It was reviewed by human editors and fact-checked before publishing.

Question 1 of 8

How many teaspoons of added sugar do U.S. adults typically consume daily?

The CDC reports that the average adult eats 15 to 19 teaspoons of added sugar per day, way over the recommended limit of around 12 teaspoons. That can be bad news for brain health, as a high sugar intake has been linked to cognitive decline. Find out more about food and brain function here.

Question 2 of 8

A food with what daily value of “sugars” tips into the high zone for added sugars.

Packaged food labels list grams of added sugars in a serving along with the “% Daily Value.” A daily value of 20% or more is considered high in added sugars per the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Click here to see how to decode food labels — and make healthier choices.

Question 3 of 8

True or False: “sugar-free” and “unsweetened” mean the same thing.

While a sugar-free food has less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving, unsweetened foods have no added sugars, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. Click here to see which type is best for you.

Question 4 of 8

What mental health effect has been associated with high sugar consumption?

Some research has linked a high sugar intake with a higher risk of depression, possibly because a sugar overload disrupts the normal balance of some brain chemicals. Learn more about sugar’s effects on the brain in this article.

Question 5 of 8

Which of the following is a way sugar may affect brain health?

Overdoing it on sugar can spark inflammation and oxidative stress in brain tissue — two culprits in brain function decline. Click here for ideas on how to cut back on the sweet stuff.

Question 6 of 8

A high sugar intake can speed up the aging process.

In a study of 342 middle-aged women published in JAMA Network Open in 2024, tests showed those with the highest sugar consumption were biologically older than their actual ages. Learn more about sugar and brain function here.

Question 7 of 8

Which beverage habit may work against brain health over time?

Sugary drinks can contribute to insulin resistance and inflammation, both of which have been linked to poorer cognitive health. Which beverages are more brain healthy? Find out here.

Question 8 of 8

True or False: Eating a lot of sugar is linked to dementia risk.

In a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2023, those who ate the most sugar were twice as likely to develop dementia as those with the lowest sugar intakes. Find food choices that better support brain health here.

You have unanswered questions. Please go back and complete those questions to finish the quiz.

Learn more about what too much sugar means for brain health here.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

 

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