The influence of age and glucose ingestion on memory function

LM Christian, BT Stollery, PJ Rogers

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

Abstract

In a study of glucose expectancy effects in young adults (Christian, Stollery & Rogers, 2004) no convincing benefits of glucose were found. This study used the same cognitive tasks (delayed free-recall, spatial recognition, semantic classification and immediate free-recall) and glucose dose (50g), with three different age groups: mean ages 21 years (n=21), 38 years (n=19) and 69 years (n=22). Participants were overnight fasted and attended two sessions one-week apart, with the influence of glucose assessed using a cross-over design. In addition to the expected effects of task structure on performance measures, the oldest adults had lower levels of delayed and immediate free-recall, and slower reaction times in the spatial recognition tasks compared to the young and middle groups; which did not differ. In the delayed free-recall task, a drink x age group interaction (p = .039) showed that glucose only improved recall for the middle aged group. There was no corresponding effect on immediate free-recall. In the spatial recognition task, a drink x truth x age group interaction (p = .014) showed glucose did not influence target present decisions, but slowed target absent decisions only in the oldest group. The results are broadly consistent with an effect of glucose on hippocampal function and suggest that the most beneficial effects of glucose may be for middle aged, rather than older, adults.
Translated title of the contributionThe influence of age and glucose ingestion on memory function
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBritish Feeding & Drinking Group: 30th Anniversary Meeting, Birmingham
Publication statusPublished - 21 Apr 2006

Bibliographical note

Medium/genre: Poster
Conference Organiser: British Feeding & Drinking Group

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