| Skipping
a Meal Could Affect Attention Span
<
October 9, 2001 > Researchers are
discovering that skipping a meal can have a negative effect on your
attention span, as well as other mental abilities. The result can be
detrimental, especially if the task at hand requires your mind to be
focused.
Low
blood sugar, a condition called hypoglycemia, is characterized by a
glucose (blood sugar) level that is too low to effectively fuel the
body's blood cells. Glucose, the body's main source of fuel, is lacking
in response to a skipped meal.
Strenuous
exercise, prolonged fasting, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, certain medications,
and other conditions can also cause hypoglycemia. For a person with
diabetes, the condition can also occur if the individual does not eat
enough food in comparison to his/her intake of insulin.
Because
hypoglycemia is a condition that can easily occur in healthy individuals
as well as those with diabetes, the study’s authors say their research
results apply to both groups of individuals.
The
Study
For
the study, the researchers induced hypoglycemia in 20 healthy individuals
by giving them insulin injections. Insulin is what the body uses to
convert glucose to energy. Having too much insulin can trigger a dip
in blood sugar levels.
Half
of the participants were given the insulin injections prior to taking
a variety of cognitive function tests, while the other half of the participants
took the tests before the insulin was administered.
The
cognitive function tests enabled the researchers to determine the participants’
attention span, including their ability to solve problems, as well as
their nonverbal intelligence skills.
One
of the tests involved the participants pretending that they were on
a vacation. The participants were asked to find certain symbols on a
map and circle them during a 2-minute time period. A similar test involved
the participants searching for a variety of different symbols in a telephone
directory while simultaneously counting a series of tones being played
on an audiotape. In another test, the participants were asked to pretend
they were on an elevator. The researchers then asked them to guess what
floor they were on by having the participants listen to a series of
prerecorded tones.
The
results were clear. The study’s authors found that when the participants
were in the induced hypoglycemic condition, their brain did not function
as efficiently or effectively as when the participants’ blood sugar
levels were normal.
Not
only were the participants less able to pay attention, but their ability
to sift out information relevant to a given task was impaired. The lowered
blood sugar levels also affected the length of time it took when making
decisions. However, the researchers also found that the induced hypoglycemic
condition did not affect nonverbal intelligence abilities such as reading
comprehension.
The
researchers speculate that since low blood sugar levels only affect
less complex brain function, simple, everyday tasks may be at risk.
Tasks relevant to everyday life that many of us take for granted such
as finding something on a grocery store shelf, telling time, or filling
out a form, may be the very tasks most likely to be impaired, explain
the researchers.
In
addition, the authors state that it is likely that individuals with
insulin-treated diabetes, who are often exposed to hypoglycemia, have
a greater risk of a decreased attention span along with other cognitive
functions.
The
study is published in a recent issue of Diabetes Care, published
by the American Diabetes Association.
Always
consult your physician for more information.
Online Resources:
American
Diabetes Association
National
Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
|