Artificial sweeteners linked to accelerated cognitive decline

An eight-year study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo has found a link between the consumption of artificial sweeteners and faster cognitive decline. The study, published in the journal ‘Neurology’, monitored 12,772 Brazilian adults with an average age of 52.

Participants who consumed the highest amounts of sweeteners—averaging 191 mg per day—showed a decline in cognitive performance that was approximately 63 percent faster than those consuming the lowest amounts (averaging 20 mg per day). Researchers noted that this rate of decline is equivalent to an additional 1.6 years of cognitive aging.

These findings remained significant even after accounting for variables such as age, gender, and cardiovascular disease. The study assessed memory, information processing speed, and verbal fluency through repeated testing over the eight-year period.