A recent study found that regular caffeinated soda consumption in children may increase the likelihood of alcohol use. Researchers examined the activity of over 2,000 young participants and discovered a connection with impulsivity and working memory deficits. According to the study, children who drink caffeinated soda every day may be more prone to substance use, with noticeable neurobehavioral factors, such as reduced brain activity, serving as significant indicators.
KEY FINDINGS:
– Daily caffeinated soda consumption in children may double the likelihood of alcohol consumption a year later.
– Frequent soda drinkers show higher impulsivity and poorer working memory, both recognized as risk factors for substance use disorders.
– Regular soda drinkers exhibit lower brain activity in areas associated with impulse control and working memory during cognitive tasks.
A recent study conducted on over 2,000 children between the ages of nine and ten has yielded new insight into potential neurobehavioral risk factors for substance use disorders. The findings suggest that children who reported drinking caffeinated soda daily were twice as likely to consume alcohol a year later.
The study also revealed that daily soda consumption is directly linked to low working memory and high impulsivity, both known as risk factors for substance use disorders. These findings took into account other contributing factors such as family history and parental education.
It’s worth noting that previous research has associated regular consumption of energy drinks with an increased likelihood of using alcohol and marijuana in the near future, particularly among teens. However, this is the first study to establish a connection between daily soda consumption and the risk of substance intake in early childhood.
The research team collected their data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study – a well-known study focused on brain development and child health in the United States. The study aimed to not only uncover a potential association between alcohol use and daily soda consumption in young children, but also to understand the correlation between soda consumption and well-known risk factors for substance use disorders.
The findings showed that children who drink caffeinated soda daily display lower brain activity in the regions associated with both impulse control and working memory. This signals an association between daily soda consumption, low working memory, and high impulsivity, recognized risk factors for future substance use.
Lead author Mina Kwon, from the Department of Psychology at Seoul National University, hypothesized that the substances found in caffeinated soda, such as caffeine and sugar, could influence the brain and make individuals more sensitive to the reinforcing effects of other substances like alcohol. This notion aligns with the ‘gateway hypothesis,’ which suggests that early exposure to certain substances may pave the way for future substance use.
Professor Woo-Young Ahn, the Director of the Computational Clinical Science Laboratory at Seoul National University, echoes these concerns and emphasizes the need for evidence-based recommendations for caffeinated soda consumption in minors. The team acknowledges the limitations of their findings, including potential confounding variables, and has called for further research to investigate patterns between childhood soda consumption and the use of other substances as children age.
