Consuming large quantities of artificial sweeteners is linked to faster declines in memory and thinking skills. The corresponding study was published in the American Academy of Neurology.
"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, MD, PhD, of the University of São Paulo in Brazil, in a press release.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 12, 772 civil servants from Brazil with an average age of 52 years old. The participants were followed for an average of eight years and underwent cognitive tests at the start, middle, and end of the study. They also completed dietary questionnaires at the start of the study examining consumption of seven artificial sweeteners: aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose.
Ultimately, the researchers found that individuals consuming the highest amount of sweeteners experienced 62% faster decline in overall thinking and memory skills than those who consumed the least. The decline, they noted, was equivalent to around 1.6 years of aging. Those consuming a ‘middle’ quantity of sweeteners experienced a 35% faster cognitive decline, equivalent to around 1.3 years of aging.
Taking sweeteners was linked to faster declines in verbal fluency and overall cognition in those aged under 60 years old, but not those over 60. The link was stronger among those with diabetes than in those without. All of the sweeteners assessed, apart from tagatose, were linked to faster cognitive decline- especially in memory.
"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. 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,” said Suemoto.
Sources: Science Daily, American Academy of Neurology