Can drinking artificially sweetened beverages lead to stroke and dementia?

Consuming at least one artificially sweetened beverage daily may increase stroke and dementia risk, according to the American Heart Association.

Researchers analyzed the eating and drinking habits of more than 3,000 study participants over a period of seven years. They followed participants for 10 years. People who drank artificially sweetened beverages daily had higher risks of ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

The results of this study may seem shocking, but researchers admit there were limitations on the reliability of their findings. Most participants were Caucasian. The stroke study included adults over 45, while the dementia study included adults over 60.

Researchers collected data through questionnaires. The study only found an association between artificially sweetened drinks and the illnesses, not causation.

Researchers found no proven link between artificial sweeteners and disease. More research on long-term effects is needed.

“Artificial sweeteners have been around for a while,” says Lena Beal, M.S., RDN, LD, a therapeutic dietitian at Piedmont’s Fuqua Heart Center. “Initially, they were introduced to women so they could stay slim or lose weight. Now, they're marketed to everyone as an alternative to sugar-based drinks and sodas because of the obesity epidemic.”

Drinking beverages that contain high fructose corn syrup, sucrose and processed sugar can cause weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cavities and heart disease. However, choosing artificially sweetened drinks may not always be the better option.

“Artificial sweeteners are 300 to 600 times sweeter than sugar," Beal says. They offer little nutritional benefit and are much more potent than sugar. You only need a small amount to get that same sensation of sweetness, but we are running into a problem of over-usage. The people who had more frequent and recent use of artificial sweeteners in that study are the ones that showed the greater incidence of stroke and dementia.”

What beverages should you drink?

Beal says the best option to quench your thirst is water. But if you don’t like water or crave a little flavor in your drink, Beal suggests the following alternatives:

“Add some lemon-lime to seltzer water or carbonated mineral water. Or you can add a little agave, or honey if you just want flavor in your water.”

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