Energy Drinks Destroys Blood Brain Barrier, Leads To Alzheimer's Disease

Regular consumption of energy drinks, especially sugar-free varieties, may damage the brain's protective barrier (blood-brain barrier) and trigger inflammation, a new study, published in Frontiers stated. This study has come as a shocker to many who have been gulping down bottles for mental and physical stimulation. It has also linked these apparent "health drinks" to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.

What Is Blood Brain Barrier (BBB)?

Inside all your blood vessels is a layer of specialized cells called the endothelium. But inside your brain, the endothelium is different. These cells lining the inside of your brain's blood vessels are tightly packed together, forming your blood-brain barrier. They’re so tightly packed that there’s almost no space for anything to slip through without help. These cells have a lipid-based outer membrane. It is because this tightly packed structure that it is able to defend the brain from harmful substances, germs and other things that are dangerous. Besides, this layer also protects the delicate chemical balance inside the brain.

Mice Were Given Water, Energy Drink And Coca-Cola in Study

The study was conducted by researchers at Curtin University, who studied the long-term effects of energy drink consumption on brain health using adolescent male mice. Over 13 weeks, the mice were given either water (control), a regular energy drink (Mother), a sugar-free version of the same drink, or Coca-Cola—all diluted to mimic human consumption patterns.

By the end of the study, all groups consuming sugary or sugar-free beverages showed signs of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Studies have shown that the breakdown of BBB is linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Down's syndrome. It is also a common reason behind stroke, both ischemic and hemorrhagic as it contributes to fluid penetration into the brain tissue and potentially leads to vasogenic edema and further brain damage. Moreover, damage os this layer has also been observed in some cases of epilepsy.

Sugar-Free Energy Drinks Cause Inflammation

Interestingly, while both the regular and sugar-free energy drinks disrupted the BBB, only the sugar-free version triggered notable brain inflammation. Markers of inflammation were significantly higher in the group consuming sugar-free versions of this drink, indicating increased activation of immune cells in the brain.

The study also found changes in blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and inflammatory markers in the blood. Both energy drink types, as well as Coca-Cola, caused elevated blood glucose (hyperglycemia). Surprisingly, sugar-free drinks also led to this spike. At the same time, blood pressure dropped in some mice—a pattern previously linked to longer-term energy drink use.

The researchers concluded that chronic energy drink intake—particularly sugar-free versions—could weaken the blood-brain barrier and promote brain inflammation. These effects appear to be connected to shifts in blood pressure, blood sugar, and inflammatory chemicals in the body.

More Empirical Evidence Needed To Support The Study

While this study was conducted on mice, the findings raise concerns about frequent energy drink consumption in youth. However, more research is needed to generalise this to humans. Regardless, the results suggest moderation is key when it comes to these highly caffeinated beverages.