Diet gun

Recent research published on September 3, 2025 in Neurology of the American Academy of Neurology, shows that there is an association (and not a causal link) between the consumption of low and zero calorie artificial sweeteners and cognitive decline.

The research focuses on 7 artificial sweeteners, artificial sugar substitutes, aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and tagatose.

Previous studies have shown that artificial sweeteners were associated with various diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and depression, but their potential impact on cognitive function had not been investigated.

At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that participants who consumed the most sugar substitutes (an average of 191 mg/day) had a 62% faster decline in their overall thinking and memory skills, compared to those who consumed the least (an average of 20 mg/day).

62% Decrease in Cognitive Function!!!

A 62% decline in cognitive function means that cognitive aging is occurring at a much faster rate than expected.

The study cannot prove causation, but the magnitude of the association is so large that it is very worrying.

Study participants who consumed the highest amounts of artificial sweeteners showed a decline in memory and overall thinking skills that was similar to what they would have had after 1.6 additional years of aging.

Since brain function ages more rapidly and artificial sweetener intake continues into the years ahead, the risk of premature or more severe damage may increase much sooner than expected.

The greatest cognitive decline was seen in people with diabetes UNDER 60 years of age.

This means that exposure to artificial sweeteners in middle age may be more harmful, and this is important because middle age is a critical period for determining the course of brain health because cognitive decline and dementia begin to develop decades before symptoms become noticeable.

Tagatose (a monosaccharide found in small amounts in a variety of foods such as figs, raisins, cocoa, and wheat) is the only sweetener that was NOT associated with cognitive decline, while all six other sweeteners were.

More research in the coming years is needed to see if the correlation is also a causal link for artificial sweeteners and cognitive decline.