Sweetened Drinks and Dementia: A Surprising New Look at the Link

For years, many of us have wondered about the potential health risks of sugary and artificially sweetened drinks, especially concerning brain health. Recent research, however, offers a new perspective on whether these beverages increase the risk of dementia in older adults.

The Latest Findings: No Direct Link in Older Adults

A comprehensive analysis, pooling data from six large prospective cohort studies, suggests that higher intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) or artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) in later life was NOT associated with an increased risk for all-cause dementia. This study, led by Hui Chen of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China, was published online in JAMA Psychiatry on June 18, 2025.

The findings remained consistent across various subgroups, including different ages, sexes, BMI levels, and the presence of chronic diseases. The robust nature of the data, with narrow confidence intervals, suggests that the lack of association is likely genuine, rather than due to insufficient statistical power.

Mixed Messages from Previous Studies

Before this new research, previous observational studies had offered inconsistent findings regarding a link between sweetened beverage consumption and dementia risk. This new analysis aimed to provide more definitive evidence by examining long-term data from a massive cohort of 10,974 adults.

The participants were drawn from several well-known and respected long-term studies, including:

• The Health and Retirement Study
• The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study
• The Chicago Healthy and Aging Project
• The Rush Memory and Aging Project
• The Framingham Heart Study (original and offspring cohorts)

The mean age of participants at the start of these studies was 73 years, with 60% being women. Their intake of SSBs and ASBs was carefully assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires, and dementia diagnoses were confirmed through active follow-up and standardized clinical protocols.

Over an impressive average follow-up of 10.7 years, a total of 2445 participants developed dementia. Crucially, the researchers found no statistically significant association between the consumption of either SSBs or ASBs and an increased risk of dementia.

Important Considerations and Future Directions

While these findings are reassuring for older adults, the researchers highlight a key limitation: the study population had a lower prevalence of daily SSB and ASB intake (around 10%) compared to the general US older population (estimated at 20%).

Despite this, Chen and colleagues conclude that their findings suggest that in late life, consumption of sweetened beverages may not independently increase the risk for dementia.

However, they emphasize a critical point: given the known harmful effects of SSBs and ASBs on metabolic health and their links to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity, it is vital for future research to investigate the effects of early-life consumption of these beverages on the risk for dementia. The long-term impact starting from younger ages remains an important area for study.

So, while this study offers some clarity for older adults, the overall message about sugary and artificially sweetened drinks remains nuanced, stressing the importance of a balanced diet for overall health.

Chen H, Ding Y, Dhana K, et al. Sweetened Beverages and Incident All-Cause Dementia Among Older Adults. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online June 18, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.1230