Popular sugar substitutes added to diet drinks and desserts may have dangerous effects on the brain. A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology found that people who consumed the most artificial sweeteners experienced faster declines in memory and thinking.
Scientists from the University of São Paulo (Brazil) analyzed data on almost 13,000 adults, whose average age was 52. The observation lasted an average of eight years. The results showed that cognitive decline in "lovers" of sweeteners occurred approximately 62% faster, which is equivalent to 1.6 years of additional brain aging.
The study included the use of aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose. All of these substances, except tagatose, were found to be associated with cognitive decline. The highest risk was seen among participants with diabetes, while no such association was seen in people over 60 years of age.
The authors emphasize that sweeteners are often considered a safer alternative to sugar, but their effects on the brain may be negative. Previous studies have also linked them to the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic."
The European Food Safety Authority is currently re-evaluating all sweeteners approved before 2009 to definitively determine their impact on human health.
