Everyone knows that sucking down too much soda contributes
to a growing waistline. But did you know that studies also
suggest that it may contribute to your mental decline?
High sugar beverages are well-established risk factors for
developing obesity and type II diabetes. There is also a
link between type II diabetes and risk of Alzheimer's
disease that we don't yet fully understand.
Sugar Not So Sweet for Your Brain
A new study published in the Journal of Biological
Chemistry asked whether high sugar drinks could actually
precipitate Alzheimer's disease. Researchers used a mouse
model that has gene mutations found in certain human cases
of Alzheimer's disease. This leaves the mice highly
susceptible to developing dementia.
Researchers used these mice to see if those given water
spiked with sugar (similar to the amount in soda pop) would
develop Alzheimer's faster than the mice give water alone -
and the answer was yes.
First, the mice drinking the sugar water developed signs of
type II diabetes. They gained more weight, had increased
cholesterol and developed insulin resistance.
Second, the sugar-water drinkers showed increased signs of
dementia, with less ability to learn and remember things;
and more physical brain changes associated with developing
Alzheimer's disease.
It's impossible to say whether the increase in Alzheimer's
dementia in the sugar-water drinking mice was directly due
to the beverage or an overall increase in calories, since
the sugar drinkers also took in about 15% more calories
than the control mice. In any case, the study underscores
the overall relationship between poor nutrient intake and
risk for Alzheimer's.
In fact, studies I have summarized in a previous article
show that high sugar meals increase markers of oxidative
stress as well, which also link to increasing risk of
Alzheimer's.
Yes, it's true that the mice in this study were already
predisposed to Alzheimer's and the sugar drink just made
them get it faster. It would be interesting to know if
normal mice would also show cognitive decline with this
treatment.
How Much Risk are You Comfortable With?
We should still heed the message, especially if you have
Alzheimer's disease in your family and may carry any
predispositions already.
It all comes down to risk. Almost everything you choose to
put in your mouth affects your risk of developing disease,
for better or for worse. Some things reduce your risk,
other things increase it.
The question is, how much risk are you comfortable with? If
someone told me that giving up something I really enjoy
reduces my risk by a few percent, I'd probably say it's not
worth it. On the other hand, if my risk were reduced by 2,
3 or 10 times I'd consider it seriously.
Unfortunately, we don't have enough data to put a number on
many of the lifestyle choices we make. But some things are
just so easy to do that why not do them? Drinking excess
soda pop should fall into that category. The craving for
sweet beverages is a habit and can be reversed and
eliminated in a short time.
The data are clear that high sugar beverages increase risk
for many diseases. If you are a heavy soda drinker making
this one change could make a significant difference for the
future of your brain and your body.
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