Higher consumption of sweeteners linked to decline in memory
Adults who consumed the most sweeteners had a 62% faster decline in thinking and memory, researchers found.
- Researchers led by Claudia Kimie Suemoto of the University of São Paulo tracked 12,772 Brazilian adults over eight years, finding higher intake of six low-calorie sweeteners associated with faster declines in memory and thinking abilities.
- The study examined seven sweeteners, finding aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol linked to cognitive decline, while tagatose showed no such association; the highest intake group averaged 191 mg/day.
- Participants consuming the highest amounts experienced a 62% faster decline in cognitive performance than those consuming the least, an effect researchers estimated was comparable to about 1.6 additional years of aging.
- This association appeared strongest among adults younger than 60 and those with diabetes. Suemoto noted more research is needed to investigate if refined alternatives like honey or maple syrup may be safer.
- Because the research was observational and relied on self-reported dietary data, findings cannot establish direct causation between sweetener intake and brain function. Researchers caution participants may have misjudged consumption habits over eight years.
17 Articles
17 Articles
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Artificial sweeteners have become a popular alternative to sugar, but new research suggests they may not be entirely risk-free. A large study published in Neurology found that people who consumed the highest amounts of several common low-calorie sweeteners experienced faster declines in memory and cognitive function over time. The study followed 12,772 adults in Brazil, with an average age of 52, for approximately eight years. Participants compl…
Study of 13,000 adults links six artificial sweeteners to faster brain aging
A sweeping Brazilian study tracked nearly 13,000 adults for eight years and found six artificial sweeteners linked to faster cognitive decline. High consumers experienced a 62 percent faster decline in memory and thinking, equivalent to 1.6 years of extra brain aging. The strongest effects were seen in adults under 60 and people with diabetes. The problematic sweeteners include aspartame, acesulfame-K, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol, and xyl…
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