Study Links Artificial Sweeteners to 62% Faster Cognitive Decline in 12,772 Adults
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Jul 18
Study Links Artificial Sweeteners to 62% Faster Cognitive Decline in 12,772 Adults
2 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Jul 18
Summary
Adults with the highest artificial sweetener intake showed a 62% faster decline in memory and thinking than the lowest-intake group, a gap researchers estimated as roughly 1.6 extra years of cognitive aging.
Eight years of follow-up in 12,772 Brazilian adults found the association after adjusting for age, sex, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease; the highest-intake group averaged 191 mg a day versus 20 mg in the lowest group.
Six of seven sweeteners—aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, Erythritol, sorbitol and xylitol—were linked to faster decline, while Tagatose was not.
Adults under 60 and people with diabetes showed the strongest associations, suggesting the pattern may be more pronounced in groups that use sugar substitutes more often.
Researchers said the observational study cannot prove causation and relied on self-reported diet data, so more work is needed before concluding the sweeteners themselves drive brain aging.
Are diet drinks and 'healthy' sugar substitutes secretly accelerating brain aging?
Must diabetics now choose between protecting their brain and controlling their blood sugar?
Largest Study Finds Artificial Sweeteners Accelerate Cognitive Decline by 62% in Adults Under 60
Overview
A major study published in September 2025 in Neurology found that people who consume high amounts of certain artificial sweeteners—such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol—may experience faster cognitive decline. This was the largest and longest study of its kind, examining several common sweeteners. While some of these sweeteners are considered safe by the FDA, the World Health Organization recently raised concerns about aspartame. The findings highlight a potential risk for brain health, especially since these sweeteners are widely used, and suggest that more research is needed to fully understand their long-term effects.