A doctor claims diet soda raises dementia risk by 290 per cent and stroke risk by 300 per cent, citing long-term research.
Dr Clint Steele, 56, a specialist in the brain and nervous system, says he helps people improve their lives by boosting brain function and preventing or reversing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder affecting memory and thinking.
In a video with over two million views, he cites research that he says tracked people’s eating and drinking habits over seven years, then followed them for a further 10 years to see who developed stroke and dementia symptoms.
“There have been numerous studies to prove that this type of drink can be damaging to your brain and also to your body,” said Dr Steele.
“Specifically, your cardiovascular system. But this specific study was very interesting because what they did was that they tracked people’s eating and drinking habits over the course of seven years.
“And then what they did was they tracked them 10 years after that, to see who developed stroke and dementia symptoms. They found the people who drink diet soda on a daily basis, at least one a day, had an increased risk of stroke by 300 per cent.
“And an increased risk of dementia by 290 per cent. These are chemicals that are damaging your body and brain.
“Instead, replace it with good stuff like water and tea. You don’t need these sugary drinks. Soda is just as damaging, but what we’re seeing in the research is that diet soda and these chemicals that are used for sweeteners are more damaging.
“Even if you drink it multiple times per week, it’s still damaging. Give it up.”
Dr Steele, who says he has spent 34 years specialising in brain health and dementia prevention, draws inspiration from a personal tragedy.
He said: “My grandmother passed from dementia, and it is one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen, her not knowing me or even my mum, her daughter.
“She was in a care facility, and they would show her flash cards of various fruits and animals, she would have no idea what they were. Even though she did not know who I was, she would whisper in my ear, ‘Please, help get me out of here. I just want to go fishing’.
“It broke my heart, and I knew I needed to do something so others did not have to go through this.”
The video was captioned: “Drinking this regularly increases your risk of stroke by 300 per cent and dementia by 290 per cent.”
Some viewers expressed concern about their own consumption. One said: “I’m on way out then as I drink a minimum of 10 cans of Diet Coke per day everyday.”
Another commented: “Husband has had diet sodas daily for many years. He was just diagnosed with dementia.”
However, others questioned the claims. One viewer said: “My mother had dementia and barely ever drink pop at all, so there’s that so.”
Another said: “My dad has dementia and never drank a diet drink in his life.”
One commenter observed: “My grandmother lived to be 94. Drank Diet Coke everyday and never had any health problems.”
Another pointed out: “So why is my 92 year old mother in law still kicking it? All I have ever seen her drink for the last 40 years is Diet soda!”
