Abstract
The hypothesis was considered that a low fluid intake disrupts cognition and mood. Most research has been carried out on young fit adults, who typically have exercised, often in heat. The results of these studies are inconsistent, preventing any conclusion. Even if the findings had been consistent, confounding variables such as fatigue and increased temperature make it unwise to extrapolate these findings. Thus in young adults there is little evidence that under normal living conditions dehydration disrupts cognition, although this may simply reflect a lack of relevant evidence. There remains the possibility that particular populations are at high risk of dehydration. It is known that renal function declines in many older individuals and thirst mechanisms become less effective. Although there are a few reports that more dehydrated older adults perform cognitive tasks less well, the body of information is limited and there have been little attempt to improve functioning by increasing hydration status. Although children are another potentially vulnerable group that have also been subject to little study, they are the group that has produced the only consistent findings in this area. Four intervention studies have found improved performance in children aged 7 to 9 years. In these studies children, eating and drinking as normal, have been tested on occasions when they have and not have consumed a drink. After a drink both memory and attention have been found to be improved.
Highlights
We are frequently told that we consume too little fluid with the potential for adverse consequences of both a physical and psychological nature
It has been suggested that measures of dehydration after exercise may be only a marker for outcomes resulting from enhanced metabolic activity
These results suggest that at this age even mild dehydration in a temperate climate can have negative consequences
Summary
We are frequently told that we consume too little fluid with the potential for adverse consequences of both a physical and psychological nature. Even if increased water consumptions improves aspects of basic physiology, or decreases the risk of disease, is there any evidence that the level of dehydration experienced by those leading a typical life style, in a temperate climate, disrupts mood and cognitive functioning? About sixty percent of the body is made up of water where it is involved in a wide range of basic functions; it is a major constituent of every cell In the blood it transports oxygen, nutrients and waste products; the mucus membranes of the lungs need to be moist; its loss as perspiration cools the body; it is required for the digestion of food. Food offers about a fifth of the total intake of fluid there remains a need to consume about two litres of water, or other beverages, to make good the loss. The basis for this number is unclear, as the multi-faceted nature of cognition means that it cannot meaningfully be summarized as a single number
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