April 24, 2017.
This is not the first study to shed light on the disastrous effects of sugary drinks on health. On the other hand, this is the first time that we have learned that these drinks can have a negative impact on our memory.
Lower than average brain volume
According to a study conducted by a team of researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (in the United States), drinking sugary drinks regularly is bad for our brain health. They could notably come disrupt our memory and our ability to learn. To reach this conclusion, the researchers decided to follow over 4,000 people for 10 years.
The participants agreed to undergo cognitive tests as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. During the experiment, the researchers were able to observe that those who drank at least 2 glasses of fruit juice, lemonade or soda per day, or 3 glasses of soda per week presented lower than average brain volume.
Even a glass of soda a day is not trivial
But that’s not all ; heavy drinkers of sugary drinks also had less effective short-term memory and a hippocampus – one of the areas of the brain that plays a role in learning – reduced. Even those who consumed only one drink a day had a smaller than average brain size. This is why the authors of this study, published in the scientific journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, recommend drink soda only exceptionally.
But what about diet drinks? According to these studies, drinking artificially sweetened drinks would also be dangerous for health: drinking at least one glass of light drink per day triples the risk of having a stroke and / or suffer from premature senile dementia. In short, when you are thirsty, drink water, you will avoid illnesses and have better memory.
Marine Rondot
Read also: Chronic diseases: the harmful effects of sugary drinks
