Six popular sugar substitutes linked to faster brain aging
A study of nearly 13,000 adults found that people consuming the most artificial sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in memory and thinking skills, equivalent to approximately 1.6 additional years of brain aging. Six popular sweeteners were linked to faster cognitive decline, raising concerns about the long-term brain health effects of common sugar substitutes, although causation was not established.
Key points
- A study of 12,772 Brazilian adults linked high sweetener intake to 62% faster cognitive decline.
- Six of seven sweeteners studied were tied to faster memory decline; tagatose showed no link.
- The findings show association, not causation, and were strongest in people with diabetes.
A study published in Neurology has found that people who consumed the most low- and no-calorie sweeteners showed faster declines in memory and thinking skills than those who consumed the least. The research followed 12,772 adults in Brazil, who were 52 years old on average at the start and were tracked for about eight years.
Researchers examined seven sweeteners: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose. These are common in diet sodas, flavored waters, energy drinks, yogurt and low-calorie desserts. The authors stress the results show an association, not proof that sweeteners cause memory loss.
Size of the decline
Participants were split into three groups by intake. The lowest averaged 20 milligrams per day and the highest 191 mg/day, roughly the amount of aspartame in one can of diet soda. After adjusting for factors such as age, sex, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, the highest group showed a 62% faster decline in overall thinking and memory than the lowest, equivalent to about 1.6 extra years of cognitive aging. The middle group declined 35% faster, about 1.3 extra years.
our findings suggest certain sweeteners may have negative effects on brain health over time
— study author Claudia Kimie Suemoto
Who was most affected
Among adults under 60, higher sweetener consumption was linked to faster declines in verbal fluency and overall cognitive performance, but no similar link appeared in those over 60. The association was stronger in people with diabetes. Six of the seven sweeteners were tied to faster declines in overall cognitive performance, particularly memory; tagatose was the exception, though researchers said this does not show it protects the brain.
The study was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.
