Effects of differences in postprandial glycaemia on cognitive functions in healthy middle-aged subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To find useful methods for the studies of cognitive function during a postprandial period, and to use these methods to evaluate function after test meals differing in post meal glycaemia.


METHODS
Forty healthy volunteers aged 49-70 years were studied. A glucose solution (glucose 50 g) was provided through either a bolus or sipping regimen at breakfast to simulate a high-GI or a low-GI breakfast, respectively. Cognitive tests of working memory (WM) were performed at 35, 90, 120 and 150 min after commencing the breakfast, and a test of selective attention (SA) was performed at 170 min.


RESULTS
Subjects with higher glucose tolerance performed better in the cognitive tests (P<0.05). After entering glucose tolerance as covariate, the subjects performed better in the working memory test at 90 min (P<0.034) and in the selective attention test at 170 min (P<0.017) after the simulated low-glycaemic index (GI) breakfast compared with the simulated high-GI breakfast.


CONCLUSIONS
Possibly, the cognitive functions tested were enhanced by avoiding a sharp decline in blood glucose concentration and by maintaining a higher glycaemia in the late postprandial period, respectively. A low-GI diet is preferable in the prevention of the risk of cognitive decline as a result of less efficient glucose regulation.
Nilsson
A
A
Division of Applied Nutrition and Food Chemistry, Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Anne.Nilsson@inl.lth.se
Radeborg
K
K
Björck
I
I
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D038321:Glycemic Index / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005947:Glucose