The study followed nearly 13,000 adults and examined seven sweeteners that contain little or no calories. People who consumed the largest total amounts showed a more rapid decline in cognitive abilities than those who consumed the smallest amounts. The association was especially strong among people with diabetes.
The results do not show that sweeteners directly cause cognitive decline. They reveal an association, meaning other factors could help explain the pattern.
Seven Common Sweeteners Examined
Researchers studied aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose.
These ingredients are frequently added to ultra processed products, including flavored water, soft drinks, energy drinks, yogurt and desserts marketed as low in calories. Several are also sold separately for use in coffee, tea, cooking or baking.
"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.
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