A recent study conducted by researchers at Florida State University College of Medicine has found a link between aspartame consumption and learning and memory deficits in mice. The study, published in Scientific Reports, involved the exposure of male mice to levels of aspartame that were significantly lower than the doses considered safe by the FDA. The offspring of these mice demonstrated spatial learning and memory deficits over a 16-week period.
While previous studies have highlighted potential associations between the consumption of aspartame and metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, this research sheds light on the potential effects of aspartame on cognitive abilities. The findings indicate that the impact of aspartame is much more widespread than previously thought, with cognitive functions being influenced by the artificial sweetener.
One interesting aspect of this study is that the effects of aspartame were only observed in the children of the male mice, not in the subsequent generations. This suggests that the transmission of these effects may be due to epigenetic changes in the sperm.
The mouse models in the study were divided into three groups: a control group that consumed only water, a group that received 7% of the FDA’s recommended maximum intake of aspartame, and a group that received 15% aspartame in their water. These levels of aspartame exposure were consistent with previous anxiety research conducted by the Bhide Lab.
The mice underwent various behavioral tests at different intervals throughout the study, including the Y-maze test and the Barnes maze test. The results consistently demonstrated learning and memory deficits in the mice exposed to aspartame.
Overall, this study provides further evidence of the potential negative effects of aspartame consumption on cognitive function. It highlights the need for additional research to fully understand the impact of artificial sweeteners on the brain and cognitive abilities.
Sources:
– Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41213-2
