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Energy
consumption,
regardless
of
source,
improves
memory
performance
in
elderly
Memory
loss
is
a
common
problem
that
accompanies
aging.
Current
evidence
confirms
that
consumption
of
mixed
meals
containing
carbohydrates
can
improve
memory
in
certain
situations;
for
instance,
eating
breakfast
improves
cognitive
performance
in
comparison
with
omitting
breakfast.
However,
little
is
known
about
the
contributions
of
other
macronutrients
to
memory
enhancement.
In
a
study
in
the
current
issue
of
the
American
Journal
of
Clinical
Nutrition,
Kaplan
et
al.
examined
the
effects
of
pure
protein,
fat,
and
carbohydrate-containing
drinks
on
cognitive
performance
in
a
group
of
elderly
subjects.
Cognitive
test
scores
improved
after
consumption
of
all
three
of
the
macronutrients
when
compared
with
a
placebo,
with
a
more
pronounced
effect
on
delayed
recall
than
immediate
recall.
The
11
male
and
11
female
volunteers,
ages
61-79
years,
were
administered
a
series
of
cognitive
function
tests
after
consuming
drinks
containing
isolated
protein,
carbohydrate,
or
fat,
or
a
placebo.
The
wide-ranging
battery
of
tests
was
intended
to
assess
general
brain
function,
including
verbal
memory
and
other
cognitive
measures.
The
examinations
were
administered
15
and
60
minutes
after
the
subjects
finished
the
test
drinks,
and
consisted
of
a
word
list
recall
test,
a
paragraph
recall
test,
an
attention
test,
and
a
"Trails"
test
in
which
subjects
were
asked
to
connect
circled
numbers
in
correct
order.
The
ingestion
of
energy,
regardless
of
its
source,
improved
the
participants'
cognition,
and
the
overall
improvements
were
stronger
for
each
drink
60
minutes
following
ingestion
than
for
15
minutes
following
ingestion.
Test
results
showed
a
significant
trend
for
the
glucose
only
(carbohydrate)
drink
in
improving
the
subjects’
composite
score
in
all
testing
at
all
time
intervals.
Previous
research
has
shown
the
beneficial
effects
of
carbohydrate
on
memory
performance.
Nonetheless,
the
finding
that
protein
and
fat
also
enhance
memory
was
novel,
and
a
number
of
macronutrient-specific
effects
on
brain
function
were
noted.
For
instance,
fat
was
the
only
macronutrient
that
tended
to
enhance
attention,
and
the
participants
recalled
more
details
60
minutes
after
ingesting
protein
than
they
had
remembered
after
only
15
minutes.
The
authors
suggest
that
each
macronutrient
may
improve
performance
via
additional
distinct
mechanisms
that
are
mediated
by
different
brain
regions.
An
accompanying
editorial
by
Morley
points
out
that
older
people
are
much
more
vulnerable
to
cognition
deficits
due
to
poor
diet,
medications
or
disease,
and
a
lifetime
dietary
pattern
may
influence
cognitive
changes
during
old
age.
Kaplan,
Randall
J
et
al.
dietary
protein,
carbohydrate,
and
fat
enhance
memory
performance
in
the
healthy
elderly.
Am
J
Clin
Nut
2001;74:
687-93.
Morley,
John
E.
Food
for
thought.
Am
J
Clin
Nutr
2001;74:567-8.
This
media
release
is
provided
by
The
American
Society
for
Clinical
Nutrition
to
provide
current
information
on
nutrition-related
research.
This
information
should
not
be
construed
as
medical
advice.
If
you
have
a
medical
concern,
consult
your
doctor.
To
see
the
complete
text
of
this
article,
please
go
to:
http://faseb.org/ajcn/November/12398-Kaplan.pdf
http://faseb.org/ajcn/November/13140-Morley.pdf
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