Study Links Six Artificial Sweeteners to Faster Cognitive Decline

· Science

A study of nearly 13,000 adults found that people consuming the most artificial sweeteners experienced a 62% faster decline in memory and thinking skills than others, equivalent to approximately 1.6 additional years of brain aging. Six popular sweeteners were associated with the faster cognitive decline, raising concerns about the long-term effects of these widely used sugar substitutes. The findings add to a debate over whether artificial sweeteners carry health risks beyond their intended role in reducing sugar intake, although the study is observational and does not establish that the sweeteners caused the decline. Six named products were linked to the effect.

Why it matters：Artificial sweeteners are consumed at scale in food and drinks, so any link to cognitive aging would affect dietary guidance, product formulation and food policy.

Key points

  • The study covered nearly 13,000 adults.
  • Highest consumers showed a 62% faster decline in memory and thinking.
  • The effect equals about 1.6 extra years of brain aging.

Sources (original reporting)

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