Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2025

A Method for Manipulating Blood Glucose and Measuring Resulting Changes in Cognitive Accessibility of Target Stimuli
Published on: August 12, 2016
The association of diet carbohydrates consumption with cognitive function among US older adults modification by daily
Shengnan Zhao1, Tianshu Han1, Xinyi Pei1
1National Key Discipline, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Abstract:
Dietary carbohydrate consumption was related to cognitive function. Whereas, there was no study investigate the association of dietary carbohydrate consumption with cognitive function modification by daily fasting duration. This study aims to examine the association between dietary carbohydrate consumption and cognitive function among participants with different daily fasting duration. In this cross-sectional study, 2485 adults aged over 60 years from the nationally representative data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2011-2014) were enrolled. Percentage energy from carbohydrates was present in both quartiles and continuous forms. Daily fasting duration = 24 - (timing for dinner - breakfast). Cognitive function was assessed by the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word List Learning (CERAD-WL), CERAD Word List Delayed Recall (CERAD-DR), Animal Fluency (AF), and Digit Symbol Substitution (DSST) Test. Multiple logistic regression and linear regression models were developed to examine the association of dietary carbohydrates with cognitive function among participants with different daily fasting duration. Restricted cubic spline models were also applied. Compared with the lowest quartile of percentage energy from carbohydrates, the highest quartile had higher ORs of poor cognitive performance among total participants [(ORCERAD-WL 1.84 95% CI 1.25-2.71); (ORCERAD-DR 1.45 95% CI 1.10-1.91)] and participants with daily fasting duration fewer than 16 h [(ORCERAD-WL 2.14 95% CI 1.29-3.55); (ORCERAD-DR 1.51 95% CI 1.05-2.17)] but not in participants with daily fasting duration of more than 16 h. Further, the negative associations between percentage energy from carbohydrates and CERAD-WL score were still significant in addition to participants whose daily fasting duration was more than 16 h. Additionally, dose-response associations were detected between dietary carbohydrates and cognitive decline, while "U" curves were observed among participants whose daily fasting duration was more than 16 h. This study indicated that dietary carbohydrates consumption was associated with poor cognitive performance, but not in participants whose daily fasting duration was more than 16 h among US older adults. The current analysis provides evidence that a longer daily fasting duration may improve the harmful effect of dietary carbohydrates on cognitive function.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Metabolic States of the Body: The Postabsorptive State
Initially, glycogen stored in the liver is broken down to release glucose into the bloodstream, while glycogen in the muscles is broken down to supply glucose for energy directly within the muscle cells. As glycogen stores diminish,...
Carbohydrates: Dietary Sources and Requirements
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...

