Researchers examine seven sweeteners – six are harmful to the brain

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Certain sweeteners in low-calorie products could impair memory, especially in younger people and diabetics.

Many people today naturally reach for diet soda, sugar-free yogurt, or protein-rich bars. The packaging promises fewer calories and the same great taste. But what sounds good has now been given a damper. That’s because certain sweeteners could impair our brain performance in the long term—especially in people under 60 and diabetics.

This finding comes from a new long-term study published in the journal Neurology. Researchers studied more than 12,000 adults over a period of eight years. They observed the impact of artificial sweetener consumption on memory and thinking skills.

Sweeteners noticeably accelerate memory decline.

The focus was on seven different sweeteners:

Aspartame

Sorbitol

Xylitol

Saccharin

Erythritol

Acesulfame K

Tagatose

A noticeable effect was observed, especially with high amounts—for example, through regular consumption of diet drinks or diet products: the cognitive performance of heavy consumers declined up to 62 percent faster than that of those who rarely used sweeteners.

Converted, this means that the brains of these heavy consumers aged by about 1.6 years. With moderate consumption, the effect was still 1.3 years.

“Healthy” does not automatically mean “harmless”

On average, the study participants consumed about 92 milligrams of artificial sweeteners daily. Heavy consumers consumed around 191 milligrams—almost exactly as much as is contained in a single can of diet soda. Study author Claudia Kimie Suemoto warns:

Our findings suggest that certain sweeteners may impair brain health in the long term.

There is no evidence of a direct cause. However, the statistical correlation is clear—and, given the widespread use of such substances in everyday life, it is undoubtedly relevant.

Particularly affected: people under 60

The correlation was found almost exclusively in people under 60. The researchers did not observe a comparable effect in older participants. Younger brains may be more sensitive to certain chemicals. However, it may also be that other factors overlap with the influence in older age.

So anyone who regularly uses sweeteners in middle age—for example, to control their weight—may risk experiencing memory loss earlier.

Diabetics are at particularly high risk

People with diabetes should also be cautious. “People with diabetes are more likely to use artificial sweeteners to replace sugar,” explains Suemoto. The link between sweetener consumption and mental decline was powerful in this group.

Not all sweeteners perform equally poorly

Of the seven substances tested, only one stood out positively: tagatose. This sweetener was not found to have any negative impact on thinking or memory. The other six—including aspartame, saccharin, and xylitol—were associated with faster cognitive decline.

Whether tagatose is safe in the long term remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: it could be a more tolerable alternative—at least for now.

These foods often contain sweeteners.

Sweeteners are not only found in diet cola or chewing gum. They are found in a variety of processed foods—often where you would not expect them. Examples include:

Ready-made yoghurts labelled “less sugar”

Muesli bars with protein promises

Calorie-free energy drinks

Light desserts and diet sauces

Children’s products that are considered “sugar-free”

People who regularly consume such products can easily ingest several hundred milligrams of sweeteners per day without realizing it.

What alternatives could be useful?

The researchers are now calling for further investigation. Natural sugar substitutes should also be given greater consideration. Examples under discussion include:

Applesauce

Honey

Maple syrup

Coconut blossom sugar

It is not yet clear whether these alternatives are actually better for the brain. However, they could be a more tolerable option, at least for the time being.

What consumers can do

Even if not all questions have been conclusively answered, it is worth paying attention to labels. If you want to limit your intake of artificial sweeteners consciously, you can implement the following tips in your everyday life:

Work with natural sweetness from fruit.

Read ingredient lists: many sweeteners end in -it or -ol.

Question light products critically—don’t automatically assume they are healthy.

Buy products that are as unprocessed as possible.

In summary:

Regular consumption of certain sweeteners such as aspartame, xylitol, or sorbitol has been linked to faster mental decline—memory aged up to 1.6 years faster, according to calculations.

People under the age of 60 and diabetics, who often resort to sugar-free products and could therefore be at increased risk, were particularly affected.

Tagatose was the only sweetener tested that showed no adverse effect, while the other substances are found in many processed foods such as diet drinks, granola bars, and yogurts.