Popular Sugar Substitutes Linked to Faster Brain Aging and Memory Decline

Popular sugar substitutes linked to faster brain aging

I led a study tracking nearly 13,000 adults in Brazil over eight years, revealing that high consumption of common sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin correlates with faster cognitive decline. Our findings suggest that heavy users experienced brain aging equivalent to 1.6 extra years, a pattern particularly strong among those under 60 and people with diabetes, though we cannot prove direct causation.

"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."