Drinking lots of sugary drinks increases the risk of dementia and stroke

A new study published in the journal Stroke shows a link between sugary drinks and the risk of dementia and stroke, according to Womenshealth.

In the study, researchers at the American Heart Association tracked the stroke risk of nearly 3,000 patients and the dementia risk of another 1,500. They found that people who drank artificially sweetened beverages had a higher risk of having a stroke or being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease over a 10-year follow-up.

In fact, people who drank one or more artificially sweetened beverages a day were three times more likely to have an ischemic stroke—the most common type of stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain—than people who didn’t drink any of these drinks. And people who drank artificially sweetened beverages were also three times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

There are a few possible physiological mechanisms: One is that artificial sweeteners have been linked to glucose intolerance, which causes cells to absorb sugar into the blood, allowing it to build up, potentially leading to diabetes. And diabetes is a known risk factor for dementia.

However, scientists say more research is needed, especially more in-depth studies of cause and effect, before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about the effects of artificial sweeteners on the brain. Until more research is done, it’s best to limit your intake of sugary drinks to reduce your risk of disease.

According to TNO