Pecohub A study has found that various artificial sweeteners found in carbonated beverages, desserts, and yogurts may have adverse effects on thinking and memory. The research suggests that prolonged consumption of low-calorie or no-calorie sweeteners and sugar alcohols, commonly used in “zero” products, could negatively impact cognitive function.
The findings come from an 8-year study tracking 12,772 Brazilian civil servants (average age of 52 years old) by Dr. Claudia Kimié Suemoto’s team at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.
Comparing groups with high and low sweetener intake, the study revealed that the high-intake group experienced a 62% faster decline in cognitive function, equivalent to accelerating brain aging by 1.6 years. The results were published three days ago in the international journal *Neurology*.
Previous studies have occasionally highlighted potential health risks of artificial sweeteners, including links to type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression, dementia, and intestinal wall damage. This study focused specifically on their impact on the brain.
The research team noted, “The high-intake group showed faster declines in memory, verbal fluency, and overall cognitive function compared to the low-intake group.” However, this trend was more pronounced in adults under 60 years old, suggesting middle-aged individuals should be more cautious about sweetener consumption than younger adults.
The sweeteners consumed included aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol—commonly found in low- or no-calorie products. The researchers warned, “While low- or no-calorie sweeteners are perceived as healthy alternatives, long-term use may harm brain health. For brain health, replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners is not advisable; natural alternatives like honey or maple syrup may be better.”
Food industry ‘pushes back’
The food and beverage industry immediately contested the findings. Gavin Partington, chief executive of the British Soft Drinks Association, stated, “Non-sugar sweeteners have been recognized as safe by all major health authorities worldwide and have been widely used in food, medicine, dental products, and beverages for decades. Thanks to sweeteners, UK beverage companies have reduced sugar content by nearly 700,000 kg since 2015.”
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) also issued a rebuttal, emphasizing, “There is a well-established scientific consensus on the safety of sweeteners. This study is observational and only shows statistical associations, not causal relationships.”
