Overview

• Neurology published findings from 12,772 Brazilian adults followed roughly eight years that associate regular low‑ or no‑calorie sweetener use with faster global cognitive decline.
• Aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame K, erythritol, sorbitol and xylitol were each linked to quicker decline, while tagatose showed no association.
• Associations were stronger below age 60, with faster declines in verbal fluency and global cognition, and were not significant in participants 60 or older.
• Patterns differed by diabetes status, with faster declines in verbal fluency and global cognition in those without diabetes and faster memory and global declines in those with diabetes.
• Authors and coverage note limits including self‑reported diet and potential confounding, and some reports cite larger samples and a 1.5–1.6‑year 'brain ageing' estimate that is not established by the Brazilian cohort alone.