A recent study warns that regular consumption of artificial and low-calorie sweeteners may be associated with accelerated decline in memory and other cognitive functions.
The research, based on an analysis of more than 12,000 adults with an average age of 52 in Brazil, revealed that those who consumed higher amounts of these additives showed a steeper decline in verbal fluency, memory, and general cognitive ability over an eight-year follow-up period.
Participants were divided into three consumption groups. The group with the lowest intake averaged 20 milligrams per day, while the group with the highest intake averaged 191 milligrams per day. Detailed dietary questionnaires were used to estimate intake of seven different sweeteners: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose.
Brain Aging
The results showed that the group with the highest intake—equivalent to the aspartame content of one daily can of diet soda—experienced 62% faster overall cognitive decline than the lowest intake group, equivalent to approximately 1.6 additional years of brain aging in just eight years. The decline was particularly evident in those under 60 years of age and in areas such as memory and verbal fluency.
Although high-sugar diets have previously been linked to poorer cognitive performance, many people opt for sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, or sugar alcohols like erythritol and xylitol, which are present in products labeled as "light" or "sugar-free" and can impair brain blood vessel function. These substitutes are widely used in beverages, yogurts, protein bars, and other processed foods.
Although the research does not establish a definitive causal relationship—as unmeasured factors or preexisting conditions could influence the results—these findings add to previous evidence warning of potential cardiometabolic and neurological risks associated with the consumption of artificial sweeteners.
RT