A role for dietary saccharide intake in cognitive performance

OBJECTIVE: The current study investigated the relationship between dietary intake of saccharides and cognitive performance. DESIGN: 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. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 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.