Study Links Popular Sugar Substitutes to Accelerated Brain Aging in Adults
A recent study has found that higher consumption of certain sugar substitutes is associated with faster cognitive decline in adults. Conducted over eight years with nearly 13,000 participants in Brazil, the research tracked dietary habits and cognitive performance. Participants were categorized into low, medium, and high sweetener intake groups. Those in the highest intake group, consuming about 191 mg/day of sweeteners, showed cognitive aging approximately 1.6 years older than those in the lowest group. The study identified six sweeteners—such as aspartame and saccharin—as linked to faster cognitive decline, while tagatose did not show the same effect. The research highlights a significant association between sweetener consumption and cognitive aging, particularly affecting verbal fluency and overall cognitive performance. 
