The acute effects of glucose ingestion on attentional control in fasting healthy older adults.
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.
                The present study examined the acute effects of glucose ingestion on different attentional tasks in fasting healthy older adults.
                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.
                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).
                Glucose ingestion appears to momentarily enhance attentional performances in seniors who have fasted for 12 h in tasks requiring switching and dividing attention.
With only one RCT included, there is insufficient evidence to base any recommendations about the use of any form of carbohydrate for enhancing cognitive performance in older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. More studies of many different carbohydrates are needed to tease out complex nutritional issues and to further evaluate memory improvement.