Imagine drinking a “low-fat” yoghurt or a “diet” soft drink, thinking you’re making a healthy choice. And yet, day after day, you could be contributing to the weakening of your cognitive abilities. A solid eight-year study reveals that artificial sweeteners – often considered the “responsible” alternative to sugar – are far from harmless.
Research from Brazil, published in the journal Neurology, followed more than 12,000 participants, with an average age of 52, over an eight-year period. Those consuming high levels of sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol or xylitol saw their cognitive decline progress 62% faster than those consuming low levels.
This acceleration translates into brain ageing equivalent to around an additional 1.6 years The GuardianWhyDoctor. The impact is particularly noticeable in people under 60 and in diabetics.
So what were you hoping for: pleasure without consequences? This is what “light” sometimes leaves behind: to inform, to incite to action, to escape the cumulative effect of these additives.
What this means for you in concrete terms
- regular consumption of artificial sweeteners, even those invisible in “low-fat” foods, can accelerate the loss of essential brain functions – memory, verbal fluency, thought reflexes.
- disenchantment is not simply a matter of isolated statistics, but of a tangible risk over an extended time horizon.
- the link established by this study, although observed (and not causally proven), is serious enough to make us rethink our relationship with these sugar substitutes.
Voices from the food industry and trade associations point out that the study is observational and does not prove a causal link. They point out that current regulatory studies deem sweeteners safe at recommended doses. But when such a finding promises more rapid mental impairment, caution becomes imperative.
What you can do right now
- rethink your eating habits. the “sugar-free” label is no guarantee of better cognitive health.
- favor natural alternatives, such as honey, maple syrup or even tagatose – the latter has not been associated with accelerated cognitive decline.
- consider healthier habits: opt for whole fruit, cook for yourself, limit ultra-processed products.
- keep in mind that to protect your brain, it’s the everyday, repeated gestures that make the difference.
One choice can change everything
You’ve always controlled what goes into your body. Today, these figures offer you a new opportunity: to reduce an invisible but real threat. And rebuild your dietary balance with greater intention. Taking care of yourself, without artifice, becomes not only a benevolent act, but a long-term investment.
