Drinking a can of pop or a cup of fruit juice every day may increase chances of negatively impacting memory and development of smaller overall brain volumes and smaller hippocampal volumes, according to data from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) that used MRI and cognitive tests.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine published their findings in Alzheimer’s & Dementia and Stroke. In an article posted on BUMC, Matthew Pase, PhD, discusses findings from the study and how sugar sweetened beverages can affect the brain.
“We also found that people drinking diet soda daily were almost three times as likely to develop stroke and dementia,” said Pase in an interview. “This included a higher risk of ischemic stroke, where blood vessels in the brain become obstructed and Alzheimer’s disease dementia, the most common form of dementia.”
In the studies, 4,000 patients over the age of 30 were assessed using MRI and cognitive testing to measure the relationship between beverage intake and brain volumes, as well as thinking and memory. Researchers also monitored 2,800 patients for the development of a stroke and 1,400 patients for dementia.
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Jodelle joined TriMed Media Group in 2016 as a senior writer, focusing on content for Radiology Business and Health Imaging. After receiving her master's from DePaul University, she worked as a news reporter and communications specialist.