A new study provides some evidence that drinking soda is bad for your brain. The study, which was published in the journals Alzheimer’s & Dementia and Stroke, found that people who regularly drank soda had smaller overall brain volume, impaired memory, and a decreased hippocampus (the area of the brain responsible for learning and memory). Those who drank diet soda daily were nearly three times as likely to suffer a stroke or have dementia later in life.

These studies are not the be-all and end-all, but it’s strong data and a very strong suggestion. — Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine (MED) and a faculty member at BU’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center, who is senior author on both papers

Dr. Seshari recommends people swap out sodas for water.

LEARN MORE
American Heart Association’s journal Stroke – “Sugar-and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and the Risks of Incident Stroke and Dementia”
Forbes- “Why is Diet Soda So Bad For Your Brian?” 

Photo credit: Nicole Lee @Flickr/Creative Commons