Don't Overdo It, Consumption Of Artificial Malams Can Accelerate Decline In Brain Function

Illustration of pouring sweeteners into drinks (Pexels/Towfiqu barbhuiya)

JAKARTA - Most people cannot be separated from consuming artificial sweeteners in everyday life. However, self-awareness is needed to limit the consumption of artificial sweeteners, because it can have a negative impact on the brain.

A recent study shows that people who consume artificial sweeteners with the equivalent amount of one soda diet per day, experience a significant decline in their ability to remember and repeat words.

The decline in brain function in people who consume excess artificial sweeteners is said to reach 62 percent. This is equivalent to brain aging for 1.6 years.

"People who consume low-calorie or no-calorie sweeteners in the highest number experience a 62 percent faster global cognitive decline than those who consume the lowest amount, equivalent to 1.6 years of brain aging," said study lead author Dr. Klaudie Kimie, quoted from Medical News Today, on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

The study involved 12,772 adults aged 35 to 75, who took part in Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health Brazilian (Longitudinal Study Health of Brazilian Adults).

The participants underwent standard cognitive tests every four years during three batches of studies, namely 2008-2010, 2012-2014, and 2017-2019. Then they were asked to fill out a frequency questionnaire for food consumption.

The goal is to calculate the combined and individual consumption of some low-calorie and no-calorie sweeteners. Including sweeteners made by aspartam, sakarin, and acesulfame-K; an alcoholic sweetener for erthritol sugar, sorbitol, and xylitol, as well as tagarise.

Participants are then divided into three groups based on the amount of artificial sweeteners consumed. The resulting highest level of artificial sweetener consumption in the study is an average of 191 milligrams or about one teaspoon per day.

This amount is almost the same as one can of a soda diet that is given aspartam, which contains 200 to 300 milligrams of artificial sweeteners. If done in the long term, it is feared that it will have a negative effect on brain health.