The Acute Effects of Glucose Ingestion on Attentional Control in Fasting Healthy Older Adults

Overview

Journal Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Specialty Pharmacology

Date 2010 Jun 19

PMID 20559821

Citations 8

Authors

Christine Gagnon

Carol E Greenwood

Louis Bherer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Rationale: Glucose enhancing effects have been observed in older adults mainly for episodic memory, but have been under-investigated for attentional functions, which are very sensitive to aging.

Objective: The present study examined the acute effects of glucose ingestion on different attentional tasks in fasting healthy older adults.

Methods: In a between-subjects design, 44 participants (60 years and older) were randomly assigned to a glucose (50 g) or saccharin (placebo) condition after 12 h of fasting. Participants were tested on neuropsychological tests of attention (trail A and B, modified Stroop) and on a computerized dual-task.

Results: Participants in the glucose group were faster than the placebo group to complete the switching condition of the modified Stroop test (p < 0.01) and showed a smaller dual-task cost in the divided attention task (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Glucose ingestion appears to momentarily enhance attentional performances in seniors who have fasted for 12 h in tasks requiring switching and dividing attention.

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