A Brazilian study following 12,772 adults for about eight years found that higher intake of low- and no-calorie sweeteners was associated with faster declines in memory and thinking skills. Participants in the highest-intake group averaged 191 milligrams daily and had a 62% faster decline than those consuming the least, equivalent to about 1.6 additional years of cognitive aging. The middle-intake group showed a 35% faster decline. Researchers assessed memory, language, verbal fluency, and processing speed at three points during the study.
Six sweeteners - aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol - were linked to faster cognitive decline; tagatose was not. Associations were stronger among people with diabetes and were seen in adults under 60, but not those over 60. The findings do not show that sweeteners cause brain damage: the study was observational, and dietary estimates relied on participants’ recollections, so other factors or inaccurate reporting may help explain the results. The researchers also noted that the analysis covered only seven sweeteners. Further research is needed to test whether the substances themselves affect cognition and whether the relationship differs across groups.
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