London - Drinking sugary drinks on a regular basis could ‘profoundly’ change our brains, a study claims.
Australian scientists compared rats that drank water containing roughly the same amount of sugar as a soft drink for a month with those given regular water.
The rats on sugary water became hyperactive and examination of tissue taken from just one part of the brain showed changes in the levels of almost 300 different proteins.
Similar brain changes have been seen in illnesses from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease.
The warning comes amid mounting concern about the health effects of the soft drinks enjoyed by millions every day.
Heart attacks, diabetes, weight gain, brittle bones, pancreatic and prostate cancer, muscle weakness and paralysis have all been flagged up as potential problems.
The latest study focuses on the brain, rather than the body, and scientists say it shows soft drinks also affect mental health.
Researcher Jane Franklin of Macquarie University in Sydney told the Society for Neuroscience’s annual conference: ‘Our research suggests the long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks can cause a profound change in brain chemistry.
‘I think we can say that drinking too many soft drinks can affect brain chemistry, as well as your waistline.
‘If you are thirsty, drink water. Soft drinks should be enjoyed in moderation.’
Gavin Partington of the British Soft Drinks Association disputed the finding: ‘This presentation has more to do with a committed view of some scientists and less to do with real evidence.’
A spokesman for industry-funded Sugar Nutrition UK said: ‘There have been numerous credible studies and reviews showing that there is no deterioration in the behaviour of those who consume sugar, and that it does not cause hyperactivity in humans.’ - Daily Mail