Study Links Cognitive Decline to Artificial Sweetener Consumption
A new eight-year study has linked daily artificial sweetener intake to a faster rate of cognitive decline in adults.
Adults consuming daily amounts of artificial sweeteners equivalent to one can of diet soda showed a 62 percent faster rate of cognitive decline compared to those with minimal intake, according to an eight-year study published in the journal Neurology.
The research, conducted in Brazil, followed over 12,700 adults aged 52 on average. It examined the use of seven common low- and no-calorie sweeteners, including aspartame and saccharin, found in diet drinks, flavored waters, yogurts, and ultra-processed foods.
Participants with the highest sweetener intake averaged 191 milligrams daily, versus 20 milligrams for the lowest intake group. This difference was associated with an additional 1.6 years of brain aging in terms of cognitive decline.
Six of the seven sweeteners studied were linked to accelerated cognitive decline, particularly memory loss. Tagatose was the only exception.
Researchers cautioned that the findings indicate an association, not direct causation, and further studies are needed to confirm these links.