Six common artificial sweeteners used by millions in the US and around the world significantly speed up brain aging and the warning signs of dementia.
In a new study, researchers in Brazil found aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, erythritol, xylitol, and sorbitol all displayed a link to troubling declines in memory, language, and thinking skills.
Scientists are still trying to figure out how these substances damage the brain, but previous research pointed to these sweeteners contributing to blood clotting and inflammation in the brain.
The six artificial sweeteners tested have been used by millions to manage weight, control blood sugar, and avoid cavities.
They’re found in many ‘sugar-free’ or ‘diet’ products, including sodas, low-calorie desserts, yogurt, snacks, milk-based beverages, and candy.
They’re also found in packets of Equal, NutraSweet, Sweet’N Low, Sunett, Truvia, and Xylosweet in countless homes and restaurants.
Those who consumed the most sweeteners had their brains age about 1.6 years faster than those who consumed the least.
However, the group which consumed the largest amount of artificial sweeteners only had about 190 to 200 mg per day, roughly the same as one can of Diet Coke.
Researchers have found that six common artificial sweeteners used for weight management can speed up brain aging (Stock Image)
Commonly-used sweeteners including aspartame, added to Diet Coke and other products, have previously been linked to certain cancers and heart issues (Stock Image)
Although the study didn’t directly test why these sweeteners might harm the brain, the researchers referenced how sweeteners like aspartame may break down into toxic compounds that damage brain cells, harming memory and thinking skills.
Erythritol has also been linked to blood vessel damage in the brain, reducing blood flow and increasing stroke risk, which could impair brain function.
The study, published in the journal Neurology on Wednesday, found that regularly consuming the six artificial sweeteners appeared to speed up memory loss and other brain-related problems, particularly in middle-aged people.
The researchers followed over 12,000 adults over eight years to see how these sweeteners affected their thinking skills.
This effect was stronger in people with diabetes, but it was also seen in those without the condition.
Interestingly, this effect was only significant in people under the age of 60. Among older adults, the sweeteners didn’t seem to have a noticeable impact on brain function.
Overall, the study found that consuming these six sweeteners daily, even in small amounts, was linked to faster rates of cognitive decline compared to occasional or no use.
The Brazilian scientists also tested the impact of tagatose, a natural sweetener found in some fruits and dairy products, and found it was the only substance in their study which did not have a link to declining brain health.
To cut back on sugar, people often turn to sugar alternatives that deliver the same sweetness without the empty calories (Stock Image)
The new study found that even one can of diet soda per day resulted in 1.6 years of additional brain aging (Stock Image)
In an editorial accompanying the new study, Dr Thomas Monroe Holland of Rush University in Chicago warned that the impact seen among younger people suggested that what we eat in midlife could affect your brain health for years to come.
The 12,772 Brazilian adults examined in this study had an average age of 52 and were all public employees in six major cities in the country.
They all took part in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), which started in 2008.
At the start, participants filled out a detailed questionnaire about what they ate and drank over the past year. This helped researchers estimate how much of the seven sweeteners they consumed each day.
Thinking skills such as recalling words and naming words starting with a certain letter were tested three times during the eight-year study.
The participants were then split into three groups based on how much sweetener they consumed daily: low (20 mg/day), medium (66 mg/day), and high (191 mg/day).
Results revealed that even in the low group, consuming less than a packet of artificial sweetener a day showed some level of brain decline.
However, the effect was much smaller than in the medium (66 mg/day) or high (191 mg/day) groups.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .