According to researchers at Glasgow Caledonian University, glucose may be able to boost memory. Researchers gave 25 study participants aged 18 to 52, a flavoured water containing either 25 grams of sugar, 50 grams of sugar or a placebo.
In memory tests that followed, researchers found that the 25 gram group could remember 11 percent better than the placebo group, while the 50 gram group was 17 percent better.
Researchers speculate that the reason glucose can affect memory is due to its ability to affect neural mechanisms, such as the hippocampus, which supports memory function. In addition, the research suggests that memory enhancement could be greatest in those individuals with efficient glucose regulation.
These latest findings were published in the December issue of Human Psychopharmacology. While these findings suggest a benefit of consuming large amounts of sugar, sugar can have a detrimental effect on teeth and may cause blood sugar levels to spike.
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