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Six popular sugar substitutes linked to faster brain aging

Photo: ScienceDaily

Sugar substitutes are often promoted as a healthier way to enjoy sweet foods and drinks without consuming as much sugar. However, new research suggests that some of these widely used sweeteners may have an unexpected downside for long-term brain health.

A study published in Neurology , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that people who consumed the most low- and no-calorie sweeteners experienced significantly faster declines in memory and thinking skills than those who consumed the least. The association was particularly pronounced among people with diabetes.

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SCIScienceDaily

Einstein's equations may explain the universe without dark energy

Mathematicians are raising a major challenge to one of modern cosmology's most widely accepted explanations: the idea that dark energy is driving the accelerating expansion of the universe. A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A presents mathematical findings that researchers at the University of California, Davis, say reveal a fundamental instability in the standard model of the expanding universe. Their calculations suggest that cosmic acceleration could emerge naturally from Einstein's equations, potentially eliminating the need to invoke mysterious dark energy.