Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-SOD-105 standard review
Possible modest link between sweetened drinks and Alzheimer's
The association between sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages and risk of Alzheimer's disease: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.
Overview
Jouni N et al.. Aging Ment Health 2025 · PMID 40511662 · DOI 10.1080/13607863.2025.2512215
Pooling seven cohort studies, diet drinks were linked to 42% higher Alzheimer's risk, far less than a tripling.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Pool cohort studies on sweetened drinks and Alzheimer's.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis of prospective cohorts.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Seven studies in the pooled analysis.
- What was actually found?
Sugary and diet drinks were both linked to higher Alzheimer's risk.
- How large was the observed effect?
ASB RR 1.42 (1.14-1.78).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
A possible modest link; not proof.
- What are the study's limitations?
Few studies; includes the archive's study.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports direction, not the size, of the claim.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot prove causation.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Jouni N et al.
- Journal
- Aging Ment Health
- Year
- 2025
- Identifier
- PMID 40511662 DOI 10.1080/13607863.2025.2512215
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 + Crossref 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Not stated in abstract record
2. Research question
Are SSB, ASB and soft drinks associated with Alzheimer's disease?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Meta-analysis – Systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohorts (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science to September 2024); ROBINS-I; GRADE; PROSPERO CRD42024574650
- Population
Adults in prospective cohorts
- Country
International
- Period
to September 2024
- Sample size
9 studies included, 7 in meta-analysis
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Prospective observational studies of sweetened beverages and AD
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
SSB, ASB, soft drinks
- Comparator
Lowest intake
- Endpoints
Incident Alzheimer's disease
- Statistical methods
Random-effects pooling; dose-response
5. Actual results
- Results
SSB RR 1.49 (1.03-2.15; I2 79%); ASB RR 1.42 (1.14-1.78; I2 0%); soft drinks RR 1.13 (0.83-1.55). Certainty rated moderate for SSB and ASB.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Increased intake of SSB and ASB may elevate AD risk; further research is needed.
6. Strengths
- Registered
- Dose-response
- GRADE
7. Weaknesses
- Few studies; probably includes Pase 2017
- Observational
- GRADE 'moderate' for observational data is generous
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- AMSTAR 2
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Small evidence base; overlap with the archive's study.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Pooled ASB-AD RR 1.42 is about half the archive's 'nearly triple'; inclusion of Pase means it is not independent.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Mixed for C-SOD-06: supports a modest association between diet drinks and Alzheimer's disease but not a tripling.
11. Independent contrary findings
Chen 2025 (I-SOD-104) found no association with all-cause dementia.
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
Applicable.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Suggests a possible modest association; magnitude far below the archive's figure.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | mixed |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
Independent replication excluding Framingham data.
15. Linked fact checks
- One diet soda per day nearly triples the risk of ischaemic stroke and of Alzheimer's dementia. – Studies with mixed or unclear results