Blood glucose influences memory and attention in young adults

Abstract

There is evidence from animal studies that increased blood glucose levels are associated with improved memory and attention. Although previous studies have found human memory to be facilitated by the administration of glucose, attentional measures have been largely ignored. Therefore the impact of a glucose drink, or a placebo, on the Rapid Information Processing Task and the Stroop Task was examined. The reaction times of those taking the Rapid Information Processing Task were faster both during the baseline period and after a glucose drink if the blood glucose values were high. With the Stroop task the ability to perform the most cognitively demanding sub-test was selectively enhanced if blood glucose values were increasing prior to starting the test. The ability to recall words from a word list was greater if a glucose drink had been consumed, although primacy and recency were not differentially influenced. The possibility is discussed that higher levels of brain glucose are associated with better memory and attention.