If you've got a sweet tooth, prepare for some bad news.
New research suggests foods high in sugar, such as chocolate and cake, may increase an individual's risk of Alzheimer's disease later in life.
A study conducted by researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine found that mice with high levels of blood sugar also had increased levels of amyloid beta, which is found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, states that high blood sugar levels could have "harmful effects on brain function" and potentially increase the likelihood of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
According to The Telegraph, study author Shannon Macauley says a link between Alzheimer's disease and diabetes can also be drawn from the results, as people with diabetes tend to have high blood sugar levels.
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"Our results suggest that diabetes, or other conditions that make it hard to control blood sugar levels, can have harmful effects on brain function and exacerbate neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease," said Macauley.
"This observation opens up a new avenue of exploration for how Alzheimer’s disease develops in the brain and offers a new therapeutic target for the treatment of this devastating neurologic disorder."
This isn't the first study to suggest that sugar consumption can affect cognitive decline, either.
A 2013 study from Charite University of Medicine in Berlin found that raised blood sugar may lead to memory problems even in people with no signs of diabetes.
A total of 141 people had brain scans in the study. The results showed that the hippocampus brain region, which is important to memory, was smaller in those with higher blood sugar levels.
Time to cut out the cake?
