The research, released in July 2025, is the first to use advanced computer modeling to demonstrate how aspartame disrupts biological processes linked to stroke severity. These findings add to decades of controversy surrounding the safety of one of the world's most widely used sugar substitutes.

For years, aspartame has been marketed as a "diet-friendly" alternative to sugar, but mounting evidence suggests it may pose serious risks to brain and heart health. With ischemic strokes — caused by blood clots blocking brain vessels — accounting for 87 percent of all strokes in the U.S., this study raises urgent questions about the long-term consequences of consuming aspartame-laden products.

How aspartame may trigger strokes

The study reveals that aspartame binds to and disrupts five key genes responsible for regulating blood pressure, inflammation and blood vessel integrity. When these genes are impaired, the body faces a cascade of harmful effects, including increased blood pressure — a major stroke risk factor — and chronic inflammation in the brain and blood vessels, which worsens stroke damage. Additionally, aspartame weakens the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxins to infiltrate brain tissue.

Researchers warn that even low-dose, long-term exposure to aspartame — common in daily consumption of diet sodas or sugar-free snacks — could gradually erode cerebrovascular health.

A history of controversy and corporate influence

Aspartame's approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974 was mired in allegations of manipulated data and industry pressure. Despite early studies linking it to brain tumors and seizures, it remains legal in over 90 countries under brand names like NutraSweet and Equal.

In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified aspartame as "possibly carcinogenic," and a 2024 study found that 63 percent of Americans — including children and pregnant women — consume it regularly. Yet regulatory agencies maintain it is safe within recommended limits (40 mg per kg of body weight daily), a stance critics argue ignores cumulative exposure risks.

Decades of research tie aspartame to other severe health issues. Aspartame is metabolized into formaldehyde, which has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. It also elevates seizure frequency in vulnerable individuals and alters gut bacteria, worsening glucose intolerance — a precursor to diabetes. A 2023 study even associated high aspartame intake with a 15 percent increased cancer risk.