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The association of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption with cognitive difficulties among U.S. adolescents: a mediation effect of sleep using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey 2021.

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  • Author(s): Feng S;Feng S
  • Source:
    Nutritional neuroscience [Nutr Neurosci] 2026 Jun; Vol. 29 (6), pp. 742-752. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Dec 03.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Taylor & Francis Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 100892202 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1476-8305 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 1028415X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Nutr Neurosci Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: 2016- : Abingdon : Taylor & Francis
      Original Publication: [Amsterdam?] : Harwood Academic Publishers : Overseas Publishers Association [distributor], c1998-
    • Subject Terms:
      Sugar-Sweetened Beverages*/adverse effects ; Sugar-Sweetened Beverages*/statistics & numerical data ; Sleep*/physiology ; Cognitive Dysfunction*/epidemiology ; Cognitive Dysfunction*/etiology; United States/epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Risk-Taking ; Adolescent Behavior
    • Abstract:
      Objectives: This study, using the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey 2021 (YRBS 2021) focused on exploring the sex differences in the associations between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (soda and sports drinks) and cognitive difficulties (memory, concentration, and decision-making); as well as the mediation effect of sleep on the associations.
      Methods: 8,229 from the YRBS 2021 data were included in the study. SSB consumption was treated as a continuous variable with various levels of frequencies, as well as coded as a categorical variable with three levels (non-drinker, non-daily drinker, and daily drinker). Cognitive difficulty was a binary variable. Sleep was treated as a continuous variable with durations of hours. Regression models and bootstrapping methods were used in this study.
      Results: Compared to non-drinkers, increased odds of cognitive difficulties were observed in girls (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.18-1.87) and boys soda daily-drinkers (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.24-1.87); and girls sports-drink daily-drinkers (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.08-1.80). Sleep, as a mediator, affected the associations of overall SSB consumption (βs = .01; p < .001) and soda consumption (βs = .02; p < .001) with cognitive difficulties among boys and girls; as well as the path between sports drink consumption and cognitive difficulties in boys (β = .01; p < .001).
      Discussion: SSB consumption is associated with both shorter sleep duration and greater cognitive difficulties among adolescents, with sleep acting as a meaningful pathway linking consumption to cognitive functioning. Reducing SSB intake and promoting healthier behaviors may improve both sleep and cognitive health in youth.
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Sweet-sweetened beverages; YRBS 2021; adolescents; cognitive difficulties; sex differences; sleep; soda consumption; sports drink consumption
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20251203 Date Completed: 20260601 Latest Revision: 20260601
    • Publication Date:
      20260602
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/1028415X.2025.2598554
    • Accession Number:
      41334768