Are you a big fan of artificial sweeteners, diet sodas, flavored waters, and processed snacks? You may want to rethink your choices, as some sugar substitutes may come with some unexpected consequences for long-term brain health, according to recent research.
Examining the effects of sweeteners on brain aging
The study examined seven widely used low- and no-calorie sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, and tagatose), finding that those who consumed the highest amounts experienced faster declines in thinking and memory skills compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts.
This large study, published in Neurology of 12,772 adults with an average age of 52 who were followed for an average of 8 years, found that those who consumed the most artificial sweeteners experienced significantly faster declines in their memory and thinking abilities. According to the researchers, this decline was the equivalent of about 1.6 years of extra brain aging, with the strongest impacts being seen among those under the age of 60, and it was even stronger in those with diabetes.
Participants filled out questionnaires about their diet at the beginning of the study, and were divided into 3 groups based on the total amount of artificial sweeteners they consumed. The lowest group consumed an average of 20 milligrams per day, and the highest group consumed an average of 191 mg/day. For aspartame, this amount is equivalent to one can of diet soda. Sorbitol had the highest consumption, with an average of 64 mg/day.
Additionally, the participants underwent cognitive testing to assess areas such as verbal fluency, working memory, word recall, and processing speed. This was conducted at the beginning, middle, and at the end of the study to track their memory, language, and thinking skills over time.
“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.
What they found
After adjusting for various factors, those who consumed the highest amount of sweeteners were found to experience faster declines in overall thinking and memory skills than those who consumed the lowest amount, with a decline that was 62% faster (the equivalent of about 1.6 years of aging). Those in the middle group had a decline that was 35% faster than the lowest group (equivalent to about 1.3 years of aging).
When broken down by age, those under the age of 60 who consumed the highest amounts of sweeteners were found to experience faster declines in verbal fluency and overall cognition when compared to those who consumed the lowest amounts. However, this link was not found in those over 60. The link to faster cognitive decline was also found to be stronger among those with diabetes than in those without diabetes.
Investigation into individual sweeteners revealed that consuming aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol was associated with a faster decline in overall cognition, particularly in memory.
“While we found links to cognitive decline for middle-aged people both with and without diabetes, people with diabetes are more likely to use artificial sweeteners as sugar substitutes,” Suemoto said. “More research is needed to confirm our findings and to investigate if other refined sugar alternatives, such as applesauce, honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar, may be effective alternatives.”
This article was created at the WHN News Desk.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
