Artificial Sweeteners Risk Brain Aging & Cognitive Decline

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin are linked to accelerated cognitive decline, with high intake mimicking 1.6 years of brain aging per recent studies. Risks are heightened in diabetes and under-60s, aligning with your preference for stevia and monk fruit over sucralose.

Key Study Findings

High consumers (191mg/day, ~1 diet soda) showed 62% faster global cognition drop, plus verbal fluency and memory deficits over 8 years in 13,000 Brazilians.
Middle intake (66mg) equated to 1.3 years aging; diabetes amplified memory loss via vulnerability.
Aspartame, acesulfame-K, saccharin implicated; tagatose spared, but observational data urges caution.

Mechanisms of Harm

Sweeteners may induce inflammation, oxidative stress, or gut dysbiosis altering brain signaling.
Midlife exposure hits verbal fluency hardest in <60s; no effect over 60s suggests cumulative damage.
In India, common in diet drinks/gums, they compound metabolic risks for neurodegenerative paths.

Diabetes-Specific Risks

Diabetes triples decline rate with sweeteners, worsening Alzheimer's-like insulin resistance.
Your monk fruit focus (zero spike, gut-friendly) avoids this, unlike sucralose you've phased out.

Safer Alternatives

Stevia/erythritol show no such links; monk fruit supports cognition without insulin impact.
Prioritize whole fruits, spices; limit all to <50mg/day per emerging guidelines.