Study Links 191 mg of Artificial Sweeteners to 62% Faster Cognitive Decline
Updated
Updated · Okdiario · May 6
Study Links 191 mg of Artificial Sweeteners to 62% Faster Cognitive Decline
1 articles · Updated · Okdiario · May 6
12,772 adults in Brazil were followed for about eight years, and the highest sweetener-intake group showed a 62% faster decline in overall thinking and memory than the lowest-intake group.
191 milligrams a day on average—roughly one can of diet soda's worth of Aspartame—marked the highest intake group after researchers adjusted for age, sex, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Adults under 60 and people with diabetes showed the strongest associations, while Tagatose was the only one of seven sweeteners studied not linked to cognitive decline.
The paper in Neurology found an association, not causation, and relied on self-reported diets, but it adds to broader scrutiny after the WHO's 2023 advice against non-sugar sweeteners for weight control.
With sugar's known dangers and sweeteners linked to brain aging, are there any truly safe options left for a sweet tooth?
Beyond brain health, could popular keto-friendly sweeteners be secretly increasing your risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke?
2025 Neurology Study Links Artificial Sweeteners to Accelerated Cognitive Decline: What You Need to Know
Overview
A major 2025 study published in Neurology found that consuming certain artificial sweeteners—such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-k, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol—was linked to faster cognitive decline, especially affecting memory. However, tagatose did not show this association. Interestingly, the study did not detect a link between sweetener use and cognitive decline in people over 60, likely due to wide variation in memory changes among older adults. Researchers suggest that artificial sweeteners may impact brain health by altering gut microbiota, highlighting the need for further research and careful consideration of sweetener choices.