Aspartame was accidentally discovered by a chemist, James Schlatter, of G.D. Searle Company in 1965, when he licked his fingers after an experiment for a new drug. Although it was approved for dry goods in 1974, objections were filed by researcher Dr. John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James Turner. The research practices of G.D. Searle were questioned, so the approval was put on hold. Of course, the parties pushing aspartame insisted it was safe and aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981, then for carbonated drinks in 1983. If this substance can aggravate these problems, it may aggravate others too.
Aspartic acid is an amino acid.
Too much of either of these amino acids kills certain neurons by allowing an excessive influx of calcium and free radicals. Many documents have been written about the overuse of these amino acids, including a book by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi. This is also an amino acid, but the most highly allergenic of them all. Phenylalanine can grow to excess levels in the brain of anyone, and these accumulations can cause decreased seratonin levels, emotional problems, behavioral problems, schizophrenia, depression and increase susceptibility to seizures. Respectively, many vitamin manufacturers warn against the use of phenylalanine by pregnant or lactating mothers.