Diet Drinks May Speed Brain Decline | Raleigh News

Raleigh News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 4, 2026 · 1m

New research reveals that regular consumption of diet drinks may accelerate brain decline, especially in people under sixty, with heavy users showing a 62% faster drop in verbal fluency compared to light users. Six out of seven common artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and saccharin, were flagged as potential culprits — though no such link was found in older adults. While diet sodas remain popular, mounting evidence also ties these sweeteners to higher stroke and heart risks. Experts suggest swapping for sparkling water, hydration, or movement as smarter, brain-healthy alternatives…