A study from Yale University found that children who drink more sugar-sweetened drinks, especially energy drinks, are more likely to show hyperactivity and inattention. When it comes to energy drinks and autism, the study did not look at autism at all, and energy drinks do not cause autism. Here is what the research actually found, and what it means for parents of autistic children.
What the Yale Study on Energy Drinks Found
Energy drinks are well known to be an unhealthy choice, yet they are becoming more popular, including with children.
In this study conducted by Yale University, researchers found a link between sugar-sweetened drinks and hyperactivity in children. Hyperactivity and inattention can affect children’s learning and success at school, so the researchers called for more awareness among parents and teachers, and for children to be given fewer of these drinks.
The study, led by a Yale team including Professor Jeannette Ickovics, involved 1,649 students from a school district in Connecticut, with an average age of 12. The students reported how many sugar-sweetened drinks they had. The findings showed that boys tended to drink more sweetened beverages than girls of a similar age.
After the study, Ickovics concluded that “As the total number of sugar-sweetened beverages increased, so too did the risk for hyperactivity and inattention symptoms among our middle-school students. Importantly, it appears that energy drinks are driving this association”. Because of this, the team warned parents about the effect these drinks may have on children’s behaviour and school performance.
It is important to remember that this kind of study shows a link, not proof that one thing causes the other. Children who are already more restless may also be more likely to reach for energy drinks.
Earlier studies have shown that children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) can find it harder to stay focused in class and are more prone to restlessness, which can affect friendships and lead to more accidents. More research is needed to understand the link between sweetened drinks and hyperactivity, and what that means for supporting children with ADHD.
Researchers from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity (CARE) also contributed to these findings. They found that many of the drinks children consumed contained up to 40 grams of sugar. Based on this, they suggested a reasonable limit of 30 grams of sugar per day. CARE also found that sweetened drinks are a major contributor to obesity, at a time when one in three children is above a healthy weight.
Energy Drinks and Autism: What We Know
There is no evidence that energy drinks cause autism. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that is mostly linked to genetics and early brain development, and it is present from birth. Nothing a child eats or drinks later in childhood can make them autistic.
That said, autism and energy drinks are still worth thinking about together, because energy drinks can make some everyday challenges harder for autistic children and teens:
- Sleep. Many autistic children already find it hard to fall and stay asleep (see our guide to autism and sleep issues). The caffeine in energy drinks can stay in the body for hours and make sleep even harder.
- Anxiety. Anxiety is common in autistic children. Caffeine can cause a racing heart, jitteriness and worry, which can feel very similar to anxiety and may make meltdowns more likely.
- Sensory sensitivity. Some autistic children notice body sensations very strongly, so the “buzz” from caffeine and sugar can feel overwhelming rather than energising.
- Medication. Caffeine can interact with some medications, including some ADHD medications. Many autistic children are also ADHD, so check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Restricted eating. Some autistic children eat a limited range of foods. If a sweet drink becomes a “safe” favourite, it can take the place of more nourishing food and drinks.
In Australia, energy drinks must carry a label saying they are not recommended for children, which is a good rule of thumb for every family.
How to Help Your Child Cut Back on Energy Drinks
If your autistic child or teen has come to rely on energy drinks, sudden bans can lead to distress, especially if the drink has become part of their routine. A gentle, planned approach usually works better:
- Find out what the drink is doing for them. Is it the taste, the cold fizz, the brand, the energy boost or the routine? Knowing the need helps you find a replacement.
- Offer a similar sensory experience. Sparkling water with a splash of juice, or a caffeine-free drink in a similar can or colour, may meet the same need.
- Cut back slowly. Reduce the number of drinks over a few weeks, rather than stopping overnight, to avoid caffeine withdrawal headaches and tiredness.
- Look at sleep and energy. If your child reaches for energy drinks because they feel exhausted, look at what is draining them, such as poor sleep, long school days or sensory overload.
- Explain the change clearly. Use simple, honest reasons and, if helpful, a visual schedule showing when drinks will change.
If you are worried about your child’s sleep, anxiety, energy levels or diet, talk to your GP or paediatrician.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
Not sure how hyper activity automatically = autism. In my experiences of those I have met on the spectrum those with autism are generally quieter and possibly withdrawn compared to nt peers of the same age. Some aspies are also very mellow quite people, saying only a few words every so often.
This of course is very dependent upon the individual, i myself am often mistaken for an nt female due to being at the aspie/nt cusp.
Those with ADD/ADD variants may have ADD or they may not, they maybe on the rainbow called the spectrum or they may not. of those i have met on the spectrum half if that have ADD/ADD variant.
I personally and some of the aspies I know function quite well on energy drinks (at times significantly better) without behavioral issues.
As for autism, it’s a developmental disability, the same as asperger’s syndrome and can be located in DSM 4 (the previous DSM). being developmental disabilities put them on axis 2 not axis 1, meaning it’s not a psych/behavioural disorder. to meet criteria for the developmental disabilities you must have impairments in childhood. to have impairments in adulthood without impairments in childhood means it is not a developmental disability.
For a kid at 16, you can not “catch” autism/asperger’s syndrome from drinking an energy drink, you have to had developmental disability in childhood.
The title of this article + content are 2 different things but together are misleading and inaccurate, for children to “catch” autism from energy drinks they would have to start drinking them regularly at 2 or 3 years old and this would have to be the majority of children with autism for this article to make sense.
Hi Stacey, you are right. We have modified the title and the content, based on that. Thanks for your valuable feedback!
Hi, in addition to Stacey’s accurate comment (which you don’t seem to have modified the title in response to…?), you are convuluting hyperactivity and ADHD. Sugary drinks increasing hyperactivity in neurotypical children is nothing new, it’s often seen in young children after anything sugary.
However, the effect of energy drinks on neurotypical children doesn’t equal adhd. Caffiene and sugar will kg course make a regular child more active… That’s not ground breaking.
However, the use of energy drinks by ADHD children can be seen as self medicating and is likely to calm them down. Caffiene is a stimulant and stimulants are used to treat adhd. Their regular hyperactivity doesn’t come from too much energy it comes from seeking dopamine. Ie, it isn’t “I need to get energy out so I move”, it’s “I feel the need for a rush because I’m so bored so I move”. When stimulants such as caffiene or adhd medication provide that rush the individual is more able sit still because they don’t have to seek the rush from activity.
Seeing greater hyperactivity in neurotypical children who consume excess sugar and caffiene is expected, and not the same thing as adhd. One of the things that makes someone adhd is they don’t have this reaction to caffiene because their stimulatory brain chemicals are below the normal amount. Kids having this hyperactive response actually suggests they’re neurotypical.
I’m autistic and you don’t talk about autism here, despite the title. I find energy drinks helpful and better for me than coffee because they contain taurine which is anti-axiety. I wish they didn’t have sugar and nasty colours but that’s how they’re made.
Nothing *causes* autism in the lifetime of a person. It’s a genetically caused disorder. Basically some neurochemicals are out of whack.
Maybe energy drinks *can* have a influence, if a mother drinks it during pregnancy. Or maybe not.
But not if a child drinks it, it gets autsim. That’s bullshit.