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Childhood Metabolic Biomarkers Are Associated with Performance on Cognitive Tasks in Young Children

Allison L B Shapiro1, Greta Wilkening2, Jenny Aalborg3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado at Anschutz, Aurora, CO.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|May 8, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Metabolic health, including fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR, is inversely linked to cognitive performance in young children. Better metabolic markers correlate with enhanced inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Metabolic Research
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Metabolic health is crucial for overall well-being.
  • Cognitive functions develop rapidly in early childhood.
  • Understanding the link between metabolism and cognition in children is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between metabolic measures and cognitive performance in young children.
  • To test the hypothesis that better metabolic health is linked to better cognitive function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Healthy Start study cohort.
  • Assessed fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels.
  • Measured cognitive functions including inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and receptive language using the NIH Toolbox.

Main Results:

  • Higher levels of fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR were significantly associated with lower inhibitory control.
  • Fasting glucose levels were also inversely associated with cognitive flexibility.
  • These associations were observed in typically developing 4- to 6-year-old children.

Conclusions:

  • Metabolic health appears to influence fluid cognitive functions in healthy young children.
  • Findings suggest a potential role for metabolic well-being in early cognitive development.
Abstract

Keywords:
childhoodcognitionexecutive functioninsulin resistance

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