A new study suggests that people who consume the highest amounts of artificial sweeteners may experience a significantly faster decline in memory and thinking skills, particularly adults under 60 and people with diabetes.
The findings, published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, indicate that high intake of artificial sweeteners is associated with cognitive decline equivalent to about 1.6 additional years of brain ageing.
Researchers followed 12,772 adults in Brazil for approximately eight years, examining their intake of seven common sweeteners found in diet drinks, sugar-free desserts, flavoured water, and tabletop sweeteners.
These included aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose. Six of the seven sweeteners were linked to faster cognitive decline, while tagatose was the only one not associated with worsening brain function.
Participants completed detailed dietary questionnaires and underwent repeated cognitive assessments measuring memory, verbal fluency, working memory, and processing speed.
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