Your daily Diet Coke habit could be negatively affecting your brain, study suggests
Your daily diet soda fix could be doing more harm than good. Hardly the first study to scrutinize the health issues related to artificial sweeteners, a recent study has found that consuming high amounts of low- and no-calorie sweeteners is associated with an accelerated rate of cognitive decline. That led the researchers behind an updated study, published last month in the journal Neurology ,…
A new study suggests that frequent consumption of low- and no-calorie sweeteners found in diet sodas may accelerate cognitive decline. Researchers from the University of São Paulo analyzed data from nearly 13,000 adults in Brazil, tracking their consumption of artificial sweeteners over eight years. Their findings, published in the journal Neurology, revealed that those who consumed the highest amounts of sweeteners experienced a decline in cognitive function, particularly in memory and verbal fluency, about 1.6 years faster than those with lower intake.
Sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame k, erythritol, sorbitol, and xylitol were associated with faster brain aging. The study did not definitively prove that the sweeteners alone caused the cognitive decline, as it was observational, but it raises concerns about long-term consumption. Experts recommend moderation and suggest alternatives like water, sparkling water, or unsweetened beverages.
Despite the link to cognitive decline, the study's authors note that occasional consumption is unlikely to cause harm.
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