“ The study’s newest findings present a concerning link between low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) used in diet drinks and accelerated cognitive decline.”
Well, they’re not food. Why would anyone consume them?
Check out Zevia. Sweetened with natural stevia. Does not affect blood sugar. No artifical colors or flavors. I’m addicted. (There is a short period of getting accustomed to the stevia after-taste. For me, after a week it was gone). I buy it at the store or on Amazon. Many, many flavors, caffeinated and non. Great stuff.
They go great with pizza, and are less harmful than, say, beer. :-)
If you are reasonably healthy but never consume anything with poor nutritional value, just because it tastes good, you are an outlier.
It is true though, a lot of people drink diet drinks to avoid the calories in regular soda, but get the boost from the caffeine.
Did the study analyze cognitive ability if you can’t stay alert / awake?
If you doze off while driving and die hitting, say, a tree, that DEFINITELY reduces your cognitive ability. I’ll bet the study didn’t cover that.
As Rush once noted, thinking burns a lot of energy, and I don’t just mean things like deep political or social analysis. Modern life puts very complex and extensive demands, many we were not really designed for, on the ol’ grey CPU between our ears. So, people scrapping just to get by, compensate as they can.