Popular sugar substitutes linked to faster brain aging
Several popular sugar substitutes may not be as harmless as they seem. Adults who consumed the most artificial sweeteners showed substantially faster declines in memory and thinking, especially if they were under 60 or had diabetes. The highest intake was linked to cognitive aging roughly 1.6 years faster than the lowest intake. Researchers stressed that more studies are needed before concluding that sweeteners are the cause.
A large study linked higher consumption of several artificial sweeteners to faster declines in memory and thinking skills.
Several widely used sugar substitutes may be associated with faster declines in memory and thinking skills over time, according to research published in Neurology , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study followed nearly 13,000 adults and examined seven sweeteners that contain little or no calories. People who consumed the largest total amounts showed a more rapid decline in cognitive abilities than those who consumed the smallest amounts. The association was especially strong among people with diabetes.
The results do not show that sweeteners directly cause cognitive decline. They reveal an association, meaning other factors could help explain the pattern.
Researchers studied aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose.
These ingredients are frequently added to ultra processed products, including flavored water, soft drinks, energy drinks, yogurt and desserts marketed as low in calories. Several are also sold separately for use in coffee, tea, cooking or baking.