High consumption of sweeteners could increase cognitive decline

A study published in Neurology last Wednesday warns of potential long-term effects of low or no-calorie sweeteners on brain health. The research, involving 12,772 adults from Brazil and an average follow-up of eight years, examined seven sweeteners —aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose— and found that those in the highest consumption group showed a faster decline in memory and thinking than those consuming less. After adjusting for age, sex, and cardiovascular history, the cognitive decline was 62% more accelerated, equivalent to 1.6 additional years of aging, while the intermediate group showed a 35% greater deterioration. The association was more pronounced in people with diabetes and in individuals under 60 years old.

“Low or no-calorie sweeteners are often considered a healthy alternative to sugar; however, our findings suggest that certain artificial sweeteners may have negative effects on brain health over time,” said Claudia Kimie Suemoto, a researcher at the University of São Paulo.

Participants completed dietary questionnaires at the start and cognitive tests at the beginning, midway, and end of the follow-up; consumption ranged from an average of 20 milligrams per day in the low group to 191 milligrams daily in the high group. Upon analyzing individual compounds, aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol were associated with a faster decline in memory.

The authors emphasize that the study is observational and does not prove causality. “More research is needed to confirm our findings and to study whether other alternatives to refined sugar—such as apple puree, honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar—can be effective options,” added Suemoto.