Artificial sweeteners and brain aging: What we know so far
Can artificial sweeteners actually be harmful to health? And can consuming them on the regular affect our memory and thinking skills? Although a new link found between sugar alternatives and brain aging requires more study, it may warrant some concern. MNT speaks to a physician and researcher to dive deeper into the matter and discuss In Conversation
Artificial sweeteners come in many different names and forms — as liquids or powders, as sucralose, erythritol, aspartame, and more. They are consumed by millions of people around the world, and especially by people with diabetes.
The main reason behind the recommendation for people with diabetes to swap sugar for sugar alternatives is that the latter are believed to cause fewer blood sugar spikes.
Can artificial sweeteners actually be harmful to health? And can consuming them on the regular affect our memory and thinking skills? Although a new link found between sugar alternatives and brain aging requires more study, it may warrant some concern. MNT speaks to a physician and researcher to dive deeper into the matter and discuss In Conversation
How do artificial sweeteners affect brain health? This podcast episode delves into the research. Illustration by Andrew Nguyen for Medical News Today.
Artificial sweeteners come in many different names and forms — as liquids or powders, as sucralose, erythritol, aspartame, and more. They are consumed by millions of people around the world, and especially by people with diabetes.
The main reason behind the recommendation for people with diabetes to swap sugar for sugar alternatives is that the latter are believed to cause fewer blood sugar spikes.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved several artificial sweetenersTrusted Source, including saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, as well as sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol, and plant-based sugar substitutes like stevia and monk fruit, as safe for consumption
Can artificial sweeteners actually be harmful to health? And can consuming them on the regular affect our memory and thinking skills? Although a new link found between sugar alternatives and brain aging requires more study, it may warrant some concern. MNT speaks to a physician and researcher to dive deeper into the matter and discuss In Conversation
How do artificial sweeteners affect brain health? This podcast episode delves into the research. Illustration by Andrew Nguyen for Medical News Today.
Artificial sweeteners come in many different names and forms — as liquids or powders, as sucralose, erythritol, aspartame, and more. They are consumed by millions of people around the world, and especially by people with diabetes.
The main reason behind the recommendation for people with diabetes to swap sugar for sugar alternatives is that the latter are believed to cause fewer blood sugar spikes.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved several artificial sweetenersTrusted Source, including saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame, as well as sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol, and plant-based sugar substitutes like stevia and monk fruit, as safe for consumption.
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Suemoto is a physician and assistant professor of geriatrics at the University of São Paulo Medical School, where she is also an epidemiologist focused on dementia research and brain aging.
She is also currently one of the coordinators of the Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Brain Study Group — the largest brain bank in Latin America. In 2016, she was awarded the L’Oreal UNESCO For Women in Science in Brazil.
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