Popular sugar substitutes linked to faster brain aging
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- The study tracked 12,772 Brazilian adults (average age 52) over roughly 8 years and found those consuming the most artificial sweeteners experienced cognitive decline 62% faster than the lowest consumers—equivalent to about 1.6 years of additional aging.
- Six of the seven sweeteners examined—aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol—were individually linked to faster declines in memory and thinking; tagatose was the sole exception.
- Adults under 60 showed a stronger association between sweetener intake and faster cognitive decline, particularly in verbal fluency, while no such effect was detected in those over 60.
- People with diabetes showed a particularly strong link, likely because they turn to artificial sweeteners more frequently as sugar replacements, lead author Claudia Kimie Suemoto noted.
- The top-intake group averaged 191 mg/day of sweeteners versus 20 mg/day for the lowest group; for aspartame specifically, the highest consumers' intake roughly matched one can of diet soda.
- The researchers stressed the study was observational and could not prove causation—self-reported diet data also introduces measurement uncertainty—and called for more research into natural alternatives like honey, maple syrup, and applesauce.
Why it matters: The findings challenge the widespread view that low-calorie sweeteners are a neutral swap for sugar, especially for adults under 60 and diabetics who rely on them most. With six of seven tested sweeteners tied to faster cognitive decline—roughly 1.6 extra years of aging—the evidence gives consumers a concrete reason to reassess intake, pending confirmatory studies.
