Previous studies have shown that energy drinks can be particularly
dangerous for your cardiovascular health. Yet a new study published in the
journal PLOS ONE shows that
they may also increase the risk of serious damage to the brain.
"We've found a link between increased brain injuries and the
consumption of energy drinks or energy drinks mixed with alcohol," Dr.
Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael's Hospital, said in a statement.
"This is significant because energy drinks have previously been associated
with general injuries, but not specifically with traumatic brain injury."
During the study, which was conducted at St. Michaels hospital in
Canada, researchers conducted a survey that was given out to more than 10,000
middle and high school students' ages 11 to 20 years old in Ontario in 2013.
The participants were asked about their energy drink consumption and if
there had been an instance in which they had experienced a traumatic brain
injury (TBI), meaning if they had sustained a blow to the head that left them
unconscious for longer than 5 minutes and/or resulting in hospitalization for
overnight or longer.
Findings revealed that 22 percent of the students said they had
experienced a TBI, while 6 percent said they had a TBI in the last year, most
of which happened while participants were playing sports.
"It is particularly concerning to see that teens who report a
recent TBI are also twice as likely to report consuming energy drinks mixed
with alcohol," Dr. Robert Mann, senior scientist at the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, said. "While we cannot say this
link is causal, it's a behavior that could cause further injury and so we
should be looking at this relationship closely in future research."
