Frequent consumption of diet soda has been tied to an increased risk for dementia, although the association may be mediated by certain physical conditions.
New findings from the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS) showed a fourfold increased dementia risk among dementia-free individuals who consumed more than one diet soda per day.
The investigators analyzed data from 947 adults without dementia. A variation of the Block-National Cancer Center Institute food-frequency questionnaire was used to determine consumption of both regular and diet soda. Among participants, 4.8% consumed regular soda more than once per day, and 2.3% consumed diet soda more than once per day. Dementia was diagnosed using neuropsychological and functional testing, with 20% of participants developing the condition over the follow-up period.
Diet soda consumption was linked to a significantly increased risk for dementia, with an adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) of 1.39 per soda per day after accounting for demographic and vascular risk factors. Those who consumed more than one diet soda per day had an even greater risk for dementia than those who drank one or fewer diet sodas per day.
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