Artificial Sweeteners and Brain Health: A Warning from Scientists

Artificial sweeteners, which have been widely used as a substitute for sugar, have been found to have a potential impact on brain health. A study that followed 12,772 people for approximately 8 years found a connection between high consumption of artificial sweeteners and faster decline in memory and thinking skills. The research, led by Prof. Dr. Claudia Kimie Suemoto from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, found that individuals who consumed the most artificial sweeteners experienced a faster decline in memory and thinking skills. The study evaluated seven common sweeteners, including aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose. The results showed that aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol were associated with faster decline in memory and cognitive performance. However, no similar connection was found for tagatose. The researchers also found that this relationship was more pronounced in individuals under 60 years old and those with diabetes. The study found that the group that consumed the most artificial sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in cognitive performance compared to the group that consumed the least. The researchers noted that this difference could be equivalent to approximately 1.6 years of additional brain aging. However, the researchers emphasized that the study was observational and did not prove that artificial sweeteners directly cause cognitive decline.