A role for dietary saccharide intake in cognitive performance.
OBJECTIVE
The current study investigated the relationship between dietary intake of saccharides and cognitive performance.


METHODS
The study used a cross-sectional correlational design in which the relationship between saccharide intake and cognitive performance was investigated among younger and middle-aged adults.


METHODS
Forty-two young adults (18-30 years) and 42 middle-aged adults (45-62 years) completed a food diary on three non-consecutive days during 1 week in order to estimate dietary saccharide intake. In addition, participants completed a battery of cognitive measures that included measures assessing memory (verbal and visuo-spatial recall and recognition, working memory), speed of processing, attention and general cognitive ability.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicated that saccharide intake was related to performance only in verbal memory recall, and only for the middle-aged adults. Importantly, saccharide intake remained a significant predictor of verbal memory performance after controlling for education and health factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise.
Best
Talitha
T
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia talitha.best@flinders.edu.au
Kemps
Eva
E
Bryan
Janet
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015930:Diet Records; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013028:Space Perception; D013060:Speech; D014796:Visual Perception
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates