A neuroscientist has warned that regularly consuming three popular Starbucks drinks could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
One of the drinks he recommends avoiding is a common choice for those who frequent Starbucks.
Dr. Robert Love, a Florida-based dementia researcher, told his 1.4 million Instagram followers that a large Frappuccino is particularly harmful to brain health.
Made with crushed ice, coffee, milk, and flavored syrups, this drink is packed with sugar and caffeine.
"They contain 300 to 400 milligrams of caffeine, which is very high. A cup of coffee has about 100 mg, and that's the right level — between 100 and 200 mg," said Dr. Love, GazetaExpress reports.
"Too much caffeine can be very stimulating, and what's more, these drinks are loaded with sugar. That amount of sugar and caffeine is not good for your heart, blood vessels, or brain."
Instead, he suggests consuming black coffee or matcha, which contain less caffeine and sugar.
He also recommends organic coffee beans to avoid mass-produced products, which may contain pesticides that can damage the brain.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) advises that most people can consume up to 300mg of caffeine a day – the equivalent of three cups of coffee – without risk.
Studies have shown that consuming more than 600 mg of caffeine per day – double the recommended amount – is linked to insomnia, nervousness, irritability, high blood pressure and stomach upset.
A 2024 study by researchers at Murdoch University in Perth found that caffeine may have negative effects on memory due to its association with insomnia and lack of concentration.
Researchers who analyzed data from thousands of Britons found that those who drank more than three cups of coffee a day, years later, had more problems with memory, reasoning, and decision-making skills.
They suggested that cognitive decline may be linked to sleep deprivation.
Another 2021 Australian study, involving 17,000 people, found that high coffee consumption was associated with a reduction in overall brain volume.
Those who drank more than six cups of coffee a day had a 53% higher risk of developing dementia, compared to those who consumed one to two cups a day.
Drinkers of more than six cups of coffee also had a 17% higher risk of having a stroke.
Some researchers believe the cause may be a molecule called cafestol, present in coffee, which can increase levels of cholesterol – the fatty substance that can clog blood vessels and impede the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain.
However, the Alzheimer's Association emphasizes that there is no strong evidence that caffeine increases the risk of developing dementia.
Dr. Love also warns against excessive consumption of carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
"Alcohol is neurotoxic – it damages and kills neurons," he said, adding that alcohol does this by destroying bacteria in the gut, which are essential for healthy brain cells.
"It is harmful to the liver, increases inflammation, impairs memory and also affects sleep," he added.
The worst type of alcohol for the brain is beer, because it increases belly fat, according to Dr. Love.
"Beer increases uric acid levels, which promotes the accumulation of fat in the abdomen," he said.
"If you are going to consume alcohol, please do so in moderation."
According to the Alzheimer's Association, obesity between the ages of 35 and 65 can increase the risk of dementia by about 30%.
Being overweight is thought to increase risk due to high blood pressure and chronic inflammation in the body.
High blood pressure can damage blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the brain, leaving brain cells without the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.
Excessive inflammation is also thought to promote the development of dementia by causing nerve cell death, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Dr. Love points out that tequila is “probably the purest alcohol.”
"Get a quality tequila and use lots of lemon, that way it will be less harmful than a low-quality beer."
Another dangerous drink that Dr. Love avoids is soda, which he says contains "a lot of sugar and no fiber."
He explained that this combination leads to extreme increases in blood glucose levels, which is linked to increased inflammation throughout the body – a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.
Currently, around 982,000 people suffer from dementia in the UK, according to the Alzheimer's Society. This number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
According to experts, the risk of developing this disease increases if a person smokes, drinks alcohol regularly, has an unhealthy diet, and does not exercise. /Express newspaper/
edition
t7 live
