Table 3.

Influence on nervous system.

Reaction after Aspartame Intake	Result
Increased cortisol level	Sympathetic nervous system is stimulated
Mental stress	Elevation of corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in plasma
Increased plasma Phy level	Decreased dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain (e.g., depression can occur)
Aspartame competition with glutamate to bind NMDA receptor	Neuronal cell function can be altered, memory loss
Calcium channels activation	Cell death
Amyloidogenic properties of aspartame	formation of Aβ-amyloid fibrils, which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease