Artificial sweeteners linked to accelerated brain aging
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A recent study published in the journal Neurology suggests that regular consumption of artificial sweeteners may be associated with accelerated brain aging, with effects equivalent to more than 1.5 additional years of cognitive decline. The researchers found that people who consumed the highest levels of certain artificial sweeteners, roughly equivalent to just one diet soda a day, had significantly worse word memory and recall than those with the lowest intake. Although the findings do not prove that artificial sweeteners directly cause cognitive decline, they raise concerns about the potential neurological effects of regular consumption.
Source
Goncalves, N. G., Martinez-Steele, E., Lotufo, P. A., Bensenor, I., Goulart, A. C., Barreto, S. M., Giatti, L., Perim de Faria, C., Molina, M. D. C. B., Caramelli, P., Marchioni, D. M., & Suemoto, C. K. (2025). Association Between Consumption of Low- and No-Calorie Artificial Sweeteners and Cognitive Decline: An 8-Year Prospective Study. Neurology, 105(11), e214393. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214393
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/health/artificial-sweetener-cognition-wellness