For decades, diet soda has been marketed as a healthier alternative to sugary beverages, promising the same great taste without the calories or sugar crash. It became a monumental product in the health and diet industries, especially for those wanting to cut their sugar intake.
In recent years, growing concerns have emerged about its long-term effects on health, particularly on the brain.
If there’s one thing dementia’s extensive research can verify, it’s how complex this condition really is. It develops from a variety of factors, not just a single cause, like drinking diet soda.
However, what studies have found, is there is a link between regularly drinking artificially sweetened beverages (like diet soda) and an increased risk of developing dementia.
Nonetheless, there are proactive measures you can take to support your brain health. Making healthy and informed decisions, like occasionally enjoying your favorite diet soda, is one of them.
How Diet Soda Affects the Brain
Diet soda owes its fame to its sweet taste with zero-calorie promises, made possible by artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose. Although they’re FDA-approved, these additives come with a controversial reputation concerning their long-term health effects.
Artificial sweeteners trick the brain into thinking it’s consuming sugar without actually raising blood sugar levels. Over time, this “trickery” can affect how your brain processes future signals of sweetness, possibly altering appetite regulation and cravings.
A 2017 study found a correlation between the regular consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of both stroke and dementia, sparking interest (and alarm) about diet soda’s potential neurological effects.
Excessive intake has also been linked to changes in the gut microbiome (a diverse bacterial ecosystem). Research shows a strong connection between the gut and the brain, suggesting an imbalance in gut health can negatively impact mood, cognition, and overall brain function.
Should You Avoid Diet Soda Altogether?
Although diet (or regular) soda doesn’t nourish our brain, occasionally enjoying a drink is unlikely to cause harm for most people.
Despite these studies, the link between diet soda and dementia remains murky, because we have yet to see evidence of a direct cause-and-effect relationship. As always, we have to consider the nuance in any research.
Many of these studies factor in lifestyle variables (diet quality, exercise, overall sugar intake, or existing health conditions) that could contribute to cognitive decline.
For example, people who are at higher risk for developing diabetes, who are also at higher risk for developing dementia, are more likely to opt for diet sodas because it is lower in sugar. This makes it difficult to determine whether it’s the soda or the pre-existing conditions that heighten the risk of developing dementia.
That said, if you’re downing multiple cans of diet soda daily, it may be time to rethink your drink of choice. Opt for water, unsweetened herbal iced tea, or a healthier alternative, like naturally sweetened juices as you gradually reduce your dependency on diet soda.
Does Dementia Have a Singular Cause?
Even though the relationship between diet soda and dementia sparks nuance, it leads to a bigger question; what exactly causes dementia?
The brain is a complex organ, and consequently, dementia is a complicated disease.
Despite how extensively it’s researched, dementia doesn’t have a single identifiable cause. It’s a multifaceted condition arising from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
These diverse pathways make it challenging to pinpoint one sole “culprit”. Instead, researchers highlight the importance of mitigating certain risk factors within our control, such as diet, physical activity, and mental stimulation.
Brain-boosting Healthy Habits
Even though dementia might lack a singular definitive cause, there are proactive measures you can take to support your cognitive health.
Here are some scientifically backed habits to integrate into your everyday life.
- Eat a colorful diet: A diet of nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, berries, fatty fish, nuts, and whole grains, are rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids. They help reduce inflammation and nourish brain cells.
- Stay physically active: Move your body however you enjoy (walking, dancing, yoga, etc.) for at least 150 minutes a week. Regular physical activity promotes neurogenesis, the growth of new brain cells.
- Continue learning: Challenge your brain with puzzles, crossword games, online courses, or learning new skills. This stimulates brain function and strengthens neural pathways.
- Stay socially active: There’s no alternative to human connection. Join clubs, volunteer, or spend more time with family and friends. Engaging in meaningful interactions boosts brain activity and reduces feelings of loneliness, a known risk factor for dementia.
Find Research Focused Support in Memory Care
Dementia’s complex nature can make caregiving more challenging as the condition progresses.
Without the right resources and support, this can affect the quality and level of care you can safely provide. Not to mention, your own wellness can also take a toll. Memory care can offer the support you need.
Memory care is a specialized long-term care community for people experiencing varying stages of cognitive decline. It provides residents with a safe, nurturing environment, with therapies and activities tailored to stimulate cognitive function and support emotional well-being.
Besides, many memory care communities, including ours at Kingston at Dupont, even integrate research-based practices, like exercise programs, sensory activities, and nutrition plans designed to support brain health.
Adopt Healthy Choices
At the end of the day, a single dietary choice, like drinking the occasional diet soda, likely won’t be the deciding factor in your cognitive health. However, understanding the broader implications of these lifestyle choices can help you make more informed decisions, laying the groundwork for a healthier future.
As dementia research reveals more information, memory care communities, like Kingston at Dupont, will follow these findings accordingly. Taking the time to learn helps us better support our residents’ health and well-being.
Connect with our team to schedule a tour of our memory care community.
