A Brazilian study of 12,772 adults linked six common sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, erythritol, sorbitol and xylitol) to faster decline in memory and thinking. It shows a link, not proof. Allulose, stevia and monk fruit were not tested.
The problem
Sugar-free chai sachets, "diabetic" mithai, diet colas: many of us switched to sweeteners to protect our blood sugar. This week, Indian headlines warned that some sweeteners may age the brain faster (Business Today, 2026). So, is your chai on the list?
What the study found
Researchers followed adults in Brazil, average age 52, for about 8 years and tested their memory and thinking three times. People who ate the most sweeteners (about 191 mg a day) declined 62% faster than those who ate the least (about 20 mg a day). That's roughly 1.6 extra years of brain ageing (Gonçalves et al., 2025).
The link was seen in people under 60 and was stronger in people with diabetes. Intake was self-reported, and the study can't prove cause. Erythritol has separately been linked to heart attack and stroke risk (Witkowski et al., 2023).
What to do
- Read the label. Look for the INS codes: aspartame (951), acesulfame-K (950), saccharin (954), sorbitol (420), xylitol (967) and erythritol (968).
- Check "sugar-free" sweets. Many use sugar alcohols such as sorbitol. "Sugar-free" doesn't mean sweetener-free.
- Use less sweetness overall. The link grew with the amount people ate.
- If you use a sweetener, choose one that's not on the list, such as an allulose blend like Trulo's, which has No Sugar Alcohol (e.g. Erythritol). Being left out of this study isn't proof of benefit.
Did you know? Tagatose, a rare sugar found in small amounts in dairy, was the only one of the seven sweeteners studied with no link to faster decline (Gonçalves et al., 2025).
FAQ
Is stevia linked to brain ageing?
This study didn't test stevia, monk fruit or allulose, so it can't tell us.
Should I switch back to sugar?
The study didn't compare sweeteners with sugar. Cutting overall sweetness, from either, is a sensible step.
This article is for information, not medical advice. If you have diabetes or take medication, talk to your doctor before changing your diet.
Where to buy
Trulo 'No Erythritol' Allulose Sweetener: trulofoods.com · Amazon · Blinkit
Want to know how sweeteners and foods affect your glucose? Read our simple guide to the glycemic index and the science behind Trulo.
References
- Gonçalves NG, et al. Association between consumption of low- and no-calorie artificial sweeteners and cognitive decline: an 8-year prospective study. Neurology, 2025.
- Witkowski M, et al. The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk. Nature Medicine, 2023.
- Business Today. Sugar free, but at what cost? 6 popular sweeteners linked to faster brain ageing. 31 October 2026.
