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Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
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Prediabetes and working memory in older adults.
Gilda E Ennis1,2, Ursula Saelzler1, Guillermo E Umpierrez3
1School of Psychology, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Brain and Neuroscience Advances
|October 22, 2020
Summary
Prediabetes may impair working memory in older adults. Reduced pancreatic beta-cell function and higher 2-hour post-load glucose are linked to worse working memory performance in healthy seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Metabolic Health
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations.
- Metabolic dysregulation, including impaired glucose metabolism, is increasingly linked to cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between glucose metabolism markers and cognitive function in older adults.
- To determine if prediabetes affects cognitive performance, specifically working memory.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-five non-diabetic older adults (age ≥65) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and cognitive assessments.
- Participants were categorized into normal glucose tolerance or intermediate hyperglycemia/prediabetes groups.
- Insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function (oral disposition index), and glucose levels were analyzed as predictors of cognitive domains.
Main Results:
- The prediabetes group exhibited significantly poorer working memory compared to the normal glucose tolerance group.
- Decreased oral disposition index and elevated 2-hour post-load glucose were associated with impaired working memory, even after controlling for age and education.
- Insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose did not show significant associations with cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Prediabetes may negatively impact working memory in healthy older adults.
- Reduced pancreatic beta-cell function and poorer glucose tolerance are potential contributors to age-related working memory decline.
- Further research into beta-cell dysfunction as a factor in cognitive aging is warranted.
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