When it comes to the brain, the phrase “10 unbelievable things” isn’t just a catchy tagline—it’s a reality that many of us live with without even realizing it. Forty percent of the population will confront some form of memory loss by the time they hit the age of 65. While a few attribute this to the natural aging process, a surprising array of everyday choices, chemicals, and habits can sneakily erode our ability to recall or create memories. Below, we explore ten astonishing culprits that could be quietly sabotaging your mind.

10 Unbelievable Things That Affect Your Brain Every Day

10 Mountain Dew Has Been Linked to Memory Loss

Food additives stir up heated debates worldwide, and misinformation often clouds the truth about what’s truly hazardous. Take the case of Mountain Dew, a soda that has faced bans in Europe and Japan because it contains brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Some reports paint BVO as a flame retardant, a carcinogen, and a host of other terrifying chemicals.

In the beverage world, BVO functions as an emulsifier, a substance that keeps the citrus flavor from separating. It’s been used since the 1930s, but large‑scale consumption has raised red flags. Both PepsiCo and Coca‑Cola pledged to remove BVO in 2014, a promise they later fulfilled after initial delays.

Although BVO isn’t a flame retardant in the same way table salt isn’t bleach, researchers have linked it to memory impairment among individuals who gulp down more than two liters of soda a day. The connection isn’t definitive, but the correlation suggests that excessive consumption of this fizzy drink could be a hidden threat to cognitive health.

So, the next time you reach for that neon‑green can, consider the long‑term impact on your brain’s memory‑keeping machinery.

9 Extensive Use of Benadryl Is Linked to Dementia

If you rely on Benadryl to tame chronic allergies, you might want to rethink that habit. Prolonged use of this antihistamine has been associated with an increased risk of early‑onset dementia and other memory‑related issues. Benadryl blocks acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for learning and memory, which can lead to confusion and a higher likelihood of falls among older adults.

While the link is observational rather than causative, studies indicate that diphenhydramine—the active ingredient in Benadryl—can raise the odds of dementia by roughly 54% when taken for three years or more. This statistic underscores the importance of evaluating long‑term medication use and seeking alternatives when possible.

8 Taking Photos Impairs Your Ability To Remember What You Photographed

Every year, an astounding 1.81 trillion photos are snapped worldwide. With 15 billion smartphones in circulation—almost two for every person on the planet—capturing moments has become second nature. Yet, this habit may be doing more harm than good to our memory.

Research shows that the act of photographing actually impairs our recall of the very scene we just captured. Whether you take one shot or a dozen, the moment the shutter clicks, your brain hands off the job of remembering to the image itself. In other words, your mind assumes the photo will preserve the memory, so it doesn’t bother to store the details.

This “hand‑off” theory explains why people often forget specifics of events they think they’ve documented. The irony is palpable: we take pictures to remember, yet the very act of doing so may erode the memory we hoped to safeguard.

7 Sometimes Sex Can Cause Short‑Term Amnesia

Brace yourself—this one gets personal. In rare cases, intense sexual activity has been linked to a phenomenon known as transient global amnesia (TGA). TGA typically strikes people in their 50s and 60s, temporarily wiping out up to 24 hours of memory.

While any strenuous physical exertion can potentially trigger TGA, studies suggest that particularly vigorous sexual encounters may be a common catalyst. The memory loss is short‑lived, lasting only a few hours, but some individuals have reported multiple episodes over the span of decades.

One documented case describes a man who experienced TGA five times across twenty years, each episode erasing an entire day from his recollection. Though rare, the link highlights how extreme physiological responses can briefly disrupt the brain’s memory‑storage systems.

6 Shift Work Leads to Major Health Issues Including Memory Loss

Work isn’t supposed to be fun, but when a job forces you into rotating or night shifts, the toll on your brain can be severe. A substantial body of research now indicates that shift work is linked to diminished cognitive performance and poorer working memory.

Across 18 studies involving more than 18,000 participants—including half from the healthcare sector—shift workers consistently scored lower on tests of focus, alertness, impulse control, and overall cognition. The irregular sleep patterns and circadian disruptions inherent to shift schedules appear to erode the brain’s ability to retain and retrieve information.

What’s especially concerning is that many of those affected are doctors, nurses, and other frontline professionals who must make quick, accurate decisions while battling the cognitive fallout of their work hours. The evidence suggests that maintaining a regular schedule may be crucial for preserving mental sharpness.

5 First‑Person Shooters Lead to Hippocampus Damage and Memory Loss

Video‑game research is a mixed bag, but a growing number of studies point to a darker side of first‑person shooters (FPS). Gamers who clock more than six hours per week of FPS play have shown measurable shrinkage in the hippocampus—the brain region responsible for short‑term memory formation.

Researchers categorize FPS players into two groups: spatial strategists, who rely on memory maps, and response learners, who depend on the caudate nucleus for rapid reaction. Chronic gamers tend to fall into the latter category. After roughly 90 hours of gameplay, brain scans reveal significant hippocampal atrophy.

While the study’s authors caution that more research is needed before drawing definitive conclusions, the findings raise questions about the long‑term cognitive impact of immersive, fast‑paced gaming experiences.

4 Some Algae Blooms Cause Brain Damage and Memory Loss

Algae blooms are more than an eyesore on a beach; they can also unleash potent neurotoxins that jeopardize brain health. One such toxin, domoic acid, accumulates in the marine food chain and has been linked to severe brain injury and memory deficits in sea lions and other marine mammals.

Another notorious culprit, Pfiesteria piscicida, sparked alarm in the 1980s when fishermen exposed to the organism began exhibiting cognitive dysfunction. Even scientists studying the microbe suffered similar symptoms, including loss of leg sensation and the need to crawl for assistance.

Although research on human effects remains limited, anecdotal reports describe confusion, nausea, and disorientation among those who encounter contaminated water. The potential for these microscopic threats to impair memory underscores the importance of monitoring and managing harmful algal events.

3 A Study Linked SpongeBob to Poor Brain Function in Children

From the 1970s onward, society has repeatedly blamed popular culture for corrupting youth. In 2011, researchers turned their attention to SpongeBob SquarePants, suggesting the fast‑paced cartoon could impair higher‑order cognition in preschoolers.

The study observed four‑year‑old children who watched nine minutes of SpongeBob and subsequently displayed reduced self‑control, diminished ability to delay gratification, and weaker working‑memory performance compared to peers who engaged in other activities.

While the findings were limited to a very young demographic and did not establish long‑term memory decline, they highlight how overstimulating media can temporarily overload a child’s developing brain, making it harder to retain new information.

2 A Bad Sex Life Can Lead to Memory Loss in Later Life

Sex isn’t just a source of pleasure; it also offers a suite of health benefits, from lower blood pressure to enhanced immune function. Recent research adds another perk to the list: a satisfying sex life may protect against age‑related memory decline.

Studies tracking sexually active adults aged 50 to 89 found that those who reported higher sexual satisfaction scored better on memory assessments than their less‑active counterparts. In a 12‑year longitudinal study of over 800 men, participants who experienced low sexual satisfaction or erectile dysfunction showed a higher incidence of memory deterioration.

The research emphasizes that it’s not the frequency of sexual activity that matters, but the overall sense of fulfillment. Maintaining a healthy, satisfying intimate life could therefore serve as a buffer against cognitive decline in later years.

1 Social Isolation Has Been Linked to Memory Decline

Being alone isn’t just a lonely feeling; it can actively erode your brain’s memory‑keeping capabilities. Research indicates that social isolation precedes memory loss, meaning the lack of interpersonal interaction can be a catalyst for cognitive decline.

During the COVID‑19 pandemic, clinicians observed a surge in memory‑related issues among individuals who were suddenly cut off from regular social contact. One study found that 60% of participants with pre‑existing Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment experienced worsening symptoms when isolated.

Experts believe that reduced social stimulation deprives the brain of essential mental exercise, leading to diminished resilience and a faster rate of memory degradation. Cultivating friendships and staying engaged with community activities may therefore be a vital strategy for preserving cognitive health.

This year, the French began to enforce a law that bans unhealthily thin models, with said models needing a doctor’s certificate in order to be hired for work. In addition the law stipulates that digitally altered images, that make models appear even skinnier than they are, will need to be labeled as such. It’s a dramatic step to tackle the growing epidemic of eating disorders that continues to perpetuate in the Western world.

With more and more individuals attempting to reach unattainable beauty standards, it’s no surprise that weight loss gimmicks and scams have reached epic proportions. However, to our surprise, radical and misguided attempts weight loss have been prevalent throughout history. Here are 10 such methods more horrifying than you probably imagined…

10. Victorians Ate Live Tapeworms

The Victorian Era, which took place roughly between the 1830s to 1900, was known for its particular beauty standards. Most notably, women of wealth wore extravagant, multi-layered skirts which had a beehive shape. For women in the Victorian period, getting into those tightly worn outfits was a struggle in itself. Most women of the Victorian Era were pushed into fastening corsets around themselves, with the goal of achieving the esteemed 16 inch waist. Internal organs weren’t deemed to be of that much importance. And while corsets are not in great use today, a Victorian Era practice still is: tapeworms.

The concept is as terrifying as it is disgusting. Ingest a pill containing a tapeworm egg? Sounds more like a science fiction movie than a diet routine. We wish that were true. Apparently, once hatched, “the parasite grows inside of the host, ingesting part of whatever the host eats.” What makes the tapeworm diet so appealing to many is the belief that the dieter will not have to change their lifestyle or eating habits at all. The theory holds that ingesting the tapeworm allows hosts to lose weight and eat without worrying about calorie intake. There is little to no evidence that supports these claims, but somehow, the theory still exists with even “celebrities” like Khloe Kardashian suggesting their merits.

It’s our hope that the tapeworm will join the rest of Victorian fashion in the dustbins of history.    

9. Vinegar to Keep Thin

Khloe Kardashian won’t be the first or the last celebrity to use their status to promote an unhealthy weight loss method. Celebrities have long used their platform to either shape or inadvertently promote an unwise weight loss diet. Enter Lord Byron. The Romantic era poet and politician, Byron was greatly concerned about his figure and popularized a vinegar-based diet. Although side effects included vomiting and diarrhea, Byron would drink vinegar daily and eat potatoes soaked in the pungent liquid. It was meant to cleanse his body, as Byron believed that he had a “morbid propensity to fatten.”

Soon after his habit became known, it became a craze with one critic noting, “Our young ladies live all their growing girlhood in semi-starvation.” The youth of the period were so influenced by Byron that they began diets consisting of vinegar and rice to emulate their idol’s thin and pale look. The need to be perceived as thin was so great during the time that even Queen Victoria worried about gaining weight. It seems that even as times change, some things do not.

8. Poisoned Themselves With Arsenic

A precursor to the “wonder pills” that are currently advertised were the drugs, pills, and potions that became a part of the big business of weight loss in the 19th century. However, without the FDA, the 19th century drug makers were liable to include much more dangerous ingredients – including arsenic. For those unaware, arsenic is a rat-killing poison that will kill humans if consumed in large amounts. Studies have also linked prolonged exposure or use with cancer, diabetes, and liver disease. It remains unclear why exactly dieters believed that those ingredients would help in weight loss, but some experts believe that it “was advertised as speeding up the metabolism, much like amphetamines.”

The amount of arsenic used in these drugs and pills was small, but it was still extremely dangerous for users; especially because many would consume more than the prescribed amount with the belief that they would lose weight sooner.

7.  Dieters Would Chew And Spit Out Food

Some of the greatest artists in history have had their names used to characterize other works. Works resembling Shakespeare have become Shakespearean, works similar to Kafka have become Kafkaesque. It’s not much of a leap to believe that William Fletcher must have believed his name would join the great men in history with his radical Fletcherism diet.

In the early 20th century, Horace Fletcher came up with a new weight loss program. He argued that a lot of chewing and spitting was the most effective way to lose weight. It began to be known as Fletcherism, and as it became more nuanced, Fletcher stipulated that one must chew a mouthful of food until the “goodness” was extracted, then spit out the remaining material that was left. Fletcherism became immensely popular, with proponents including the likes of Henry James and even Franz Kafka. Items such as shallots were said to be chewed more than 700 times, and dinner parties soon began to include members timing one another’s chews.

As a result of the diet, participants only defecated once every several weeks. Fletcher seemed to take this as a positive, even arguing that one’s feces would smell like “warm biscuits.” It was said that William Fletcher even carried around a bag of his own feces to demonstrate the great smell.

6. Women Tried to Wash the Fat Away With Soap

If advertisements now seem deceptive, imagine seeing an ad that claimed that with just a little of soap, you could wash away fat. A 1920 newspaper advertisement did just that, claiming the La – Mar  brand could, “wash away fat and years of age.” The promotional material makes a lot of ridiculous claims, promising users that there was no need for “dieting or exercise. Be as slim as you wish.” In a lot of ways, what the La-Mar soap promises isn’t that outrageous in comparison to many of the current dieting plans. However, the La-Mar brand did make some claims that even the most ambitious scam artists wouldn’t make.

Here are a few: acts like magic removing double chin, results quick and amazing, and reduce any parts of the body desired without affecting other parts.

The amazing and terrifying thing is La-Mar wasn’t alone: La Parle existed in the United States with the same promises of their competitors, and undoubtedly the same “results.”

5. Breatharian Diet was Like a Cult

Probably the most terrifying diet on our list is more than just a diet, and is considered a philosophy and even a spiritual movement. Proponents believe that all one needs to survive is… sunlight. That’s it. Advocates claim that human beings who demonstrate spiritual purity can live solely on water, sunlight, and the life force (Prana). While it may seem to be an ancient hoax, “breatharianism” is currently practiced in the United States.

Leaders of the American movement, Wiley Brookes and their founder Jasmuheen (born Ellen Greve), have led its growth and resurging popularity. Jasmuheen claimed to be able to survive without any more than the occasional cup of tea for months on end. However, after an interview with 60 Minutes where she consented to stay in a hotel room to demonstrate her abilities, she was unable to stay for a single day without demonstrating signs of dehydration.

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer, who admitted to participating in the movement early in her career, has called it a cult with adherents who are very controlling and manipulative.

4. Anklets Were Another Form of Corsets

It’s hard to beat the crudeness and restrictiveness of the corset, but the anklet certainly made its best effort. A rubber device that appeared like a modern ankle brace, the anklet promised to “reduce your flesh.” The advertisement claimed that weight would be lost without diet or exercise, simply by dissolving fat as a result of perspiration that will be caused by wearing the anklet.

Promotional material claimed the anklet was deemed effective by a Dr. Jeanne P.H. Walter. And we don’t think it takes Holden Caulfield to tell us that the woman’s middle initials must have stood for phony.  

3. Spot Reducer Has a Familiar Advertising Slogan

The Spot reducer makes the list because of its demonstration of the parallels between ad campaigns. The great similarity between advertisement for the Spot Reducer and La- Mar soap is quite fascinating and terrifying. A one page promotional piece placed in the 1950 Milwaukee Sentinel for the Spot Reducer encouraged readers to not to stay fat, but to “lose pounds and inches safely.” A small gadget made of aluminum and rubber, the Spot Reducer was nothing more than a small vibrator. That didn’t stop advertisers.

Wherever the reader has extra weight, the Spot Reducer will erase it “like a magic wand,” they said. Similar to earlier ad campaigns, they told consumers that they did not have to worry about diet or exercise, all the work would be done by the Spot Reducer. It’s sad that people not only believed those words then, but continue to believe them now.

2. Tongue Patch Test

A “modern” iteration of the tapeworm diet, the tongue patch test consists of a doctor sewing a patch of mesh into patients’ tongues. As a result of the patch, swallowing or eating, in general, becomes difficult – even causing pain. The tongue patch test is most prevalent in Venezuela but has also been documented in the United States.

A cosmetic surgeon in California who has begun to administer the patch charges $2,000 for the procedure while promising it will lead to 18 to 20 pounds of weight loss in 30 days.

For those who found this method appealing, “the procedure comes with an 800-calorie per day liquid diet of shakes and drinks until the patch comes off.” Buyer beware.

1. Last Chance Diet Took Lives

Like Mr. Fletcher, the Prolinn diet also bears the name of its creator: Robert Linn. The Prolinn diet was created in the 1970s as a precursor to the wonder drinks of the 1990s. Linn’s special drink was said to contain “400 calories of liquid protein.” However, after some investigation, the “protein” in Linn’s drink began to be questioned. Soon after, it was revealed that the “protein” was nothing more than the leftover of slaughterhouse byproducts like crushed animal horns, hooves, hides, tendons and bones.

Linn then used artificial flavors, enzymes, and colors to make the drinks more appealing to consumers. And it became more than appealing to consumers: they actually bought it. Millions did. In total, two to four million people used the Prolinn diet to lose weight and, sadly enough, 58 people died from heart attacks while on it.