Aspartame, Saccharin, Erythritol Linked To Faster Brain Ageing: Study

White sugar is widely known for its harmful effects on health. As a result, many people—especially those with Type 2 diabetes—turn to low- and no-calorie sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, and erythritol, believing they are a healthier alternative.However, a new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has again suggested that higher consumption of certain artificial sweeteners may be associated with faster declines in memory and thinking skills over time.The researchers stressed that the findings do not prove these sweeteners cause cognitive decline. Instead, they show an association, meaning other factors could also contribute to the observed pattern.”Low- and no-calorie sweeteners are often seen as a healthy alternative to sugar. However, our findings suggest certain sweeteners may have negative effects on brain health over time,” said study author Claudia Kimie Suemoto from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.What Did the Study Find?The study followed 12,772 adults in Brazil, with an average age of 52 years, for approximately eight years. Researchers examined the intake of seven commonly used low- and no-calorie sweeteners:AspartameSaccharinAcesulfame KErythritolXylitolSorbitolTagatoseThese sweeteners are commonly found in ultra-processed foods and beverages, including flavored water, soft drinks, energy drinks, yoghurt, desserts, and products marketed as low-calorie. Many are also sold separately for use in coffee, tea, cooking, and baking.The researchers found that people with the highest total intake of sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in overall thinking and memory abilities than those with the lowest intake. This difference was estimated to be comparable to about 1.6 additional years of brain ageing.Participants in the middle consumption group also showed a 35% faster decline, equivalent to approximately 1.3 additional years of ageing.The association was especially strong among people with diabetes, who are more likely to use artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes.Stronger Link in Adults Under 60Age also appeared to influence the findings. Among participants younger than 60, those who consumed the highest amounts of sweeteners experienced faster declines in verbal fluency and overall cognitive performance than those with the lowest intake.Researchers did not observe the same association among participants aged 60 years and older. The study found that aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol were associated with faster declines in overall cognition, particularly memory. Tagatose was the only sweetener not linked to cognitive decline.”While we found links to cognitive decline for middle-aged people both with and without diabetes, people with diabetes are more likely to use artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes,” Suemoto said. “More research is needed to confirm our findings and to investigate if other refined sugar alternatives, such as applesauce, honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar, may be effective alternatives.”Are There Any Limitations?The researchers also acknowledged several limitations in study :It did not evaluate every artificial sweetener currently used in foods and beverages, so the findings cannot be applied to all sugar substitutes.Dietary intake was self-reported, meaning participants may have inaccurately remembered or estimated what they consumed.The study was observational, meaning it identified an association but cannot establish that artificial sweeteners directly caused cognitive decline.