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The study examined nearly 13,000 people over an eight-year period
NEED TO KNOW
- A study of nearly 13,000 adults linked high artificial sweetener intake to faster cognitive decline
- Researchers found the highest sweetener consumers experienced cognitive aging equivalent to 1.6 extra years compared to the lowest group
- The study noted an association, not causation, and recognized other factors could contribute to the observed decline
A new study has found a link between sugar substitutes and a decline in cognitive function over time.
The study, first published in the American Academy of Neurology, investigated artificial sweeteners’ impact on brain health by following nearly 13,000 adults’ consumption patterns and later analyzing their cognitive abilities.
“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 Claudia Kimie Suemoto, MD, PhD, one of the study’s authors, from the University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Researchers examined seven common sweeteners in the study, including aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose — many of which are often found in ultra-processed foods and products, or in foods claiming to be low in calories.
Participants, all residents of Brazil and about 52 years old on average, were monitored for eight years. At the study’s inception, each individual was instructed to complete a comprehensive questionnaire about their eating and drinking patterns during the last year, which helped researchers categorize them into three groups based on their artificial sweetener intake.
Those in the group of the lowest sweetener consumption averaged 20 mg per day, and those in the highest averaged 191 mg per day.
“In the case of aspartame,” the study said of one of the most recognizable artificial sweeteners, “the amount consumed by the highest group was roughly equal to the aspartame in one can of diet soda.”
Participants underwent cognitive assessments — measuring verbal fluency, working memory, word recall and processing speed — at the beginning, midpoint and conclusion of the study. After “accounting for age, sex, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and other relevant factors” as potential skews to the research, study authors found a “clear difference” between groups.
“People who consumed the greatest amounts of sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in overall thinking and memory abilities than those who consumed the least,” the study read. “Researchers estimated that this difference was comparable to about 1.6 additional years of aging.”
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The middle group exhibited a cognitive decline 35% faster than the lowest, or effectively 1.3 years of aging. Participant age had a noticeable impact on the results, however: individuals older than 60 did not exhibit the same pattern as those in their respective groups.
Researchers advised that the study’s findings did not prove cause and effect and should not be treated as such.
“The results do not show that sweeteners directly cause cognitive decline,” the study read. “They reveal an association, meaning other factors could help explain the pattern.”
Read the original article on People
