Glucose enhancement of performance on memory tests in young and aged humans.
Recent findings indicate that glucose administration enhances memory processes in rodents. This study examined the effects of glucose on memory in humans. After drinking glucose- or saccharin-flavored beverages, college-aged and elderly humans were tested with modified versions of the Wechsler Memory Scale. Beverages and tests were administered in a counter-balanced, crossover design, enabling within subject comparisons. The major findings were: (1) glucose enhanced memory in elderly and, to a lesser extent, in young subjects; and (2) glucose tolerance in individual subjects predicted memory in elderly, but not in young subjects on both glucose and saccharin test days.
Hall
J L
JL
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22903.
Gonder-Frederick
L A
LA
Chewning
W W
WW
Silveira
J
J
Gold
P E
PE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005950:Glucose Solution, Hypertonic