Artificial sweeteners may speed brain aging while quality carbs could reverse it

A Brazilian cohort study that tracked more than 12,000 people for eight years found that regular consumption of artificial sweeteners, common in diet sodas, was associated with brain aging equivalent to 1.6 years earlier than non‑consumers. Nutrition experts warned that occasional intake is acceptable, but replacing sugary drinks with diet soda daily could accelerate cognitive decline.

An Australian study from the University of Sydney examined 104 older adults who followed a one‑month diet enriched with high‑quality carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes, and starchy vegetables. Participants showed a reduction in physiological age (δAge) of about 3.5 years, effectively reversing their biological age by roughly four years. Researchers linked the benefit to lowered chronic inflammation, improved metabolic health, and a healthier gut microbiome.