In a study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, Claude Messier and his collaborators demonstrate that there is a link between the control of blood sugar and human cognitive abilities, including memory. The research suggests that high blood sugar levels can produce negative effects on the brain and lead to cognitive deficits.
In the study, the participants (ages 55-84) were divided in groups depending on their age and their body’s ability to control its blood sugar (none were diabetic). The researchers compared the groups’ performances in a number of experiments. Older participants (72 years and over) with poorer glucoregulation had the worst performance in tests evaluating working memory, verbal declarative memory and executive functions.
