Poulin, MarcGarber, Anna2017-07-052017-07-0520172017Garber, A. (2017). Association between glycemic load and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults: results from the Brain in Motion study (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25033http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3928Background: Impaired glucose tolerance is a risk factor for non-age-related cognitive decline and is also associated with measures of physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). A low glycemic load (GL) diet can aid in the management of blood glucose levels, but little is known about its effect on cognition with poor glucoregulation. Objective: The aim of this thesis was to assess the relation between GL and cognitive function by glucoregulation, and possible mediatory effects by CRF and PA, in older adults. Design: A cross-sectional analysis of 194 cognitively healthy adults aged ≥55 years (mean=65.7, SD=6.1) was conducted. GL was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and glucoregulation was characterized on the HOMA-IR index. Subjects also completed a cognitive assessment, CRF testing, a validated self-reported PA questionnaire, and a blood draw. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for significant covariates were used to evaluate the relation between GL and cognition, and mediation analysis was used to assess potential mediatory effects by CRF and PA. Results: GL was inversely associated with global cognition (β=-0.014; 95% CI -0.024, -0.0036) and figural memory (β =-0.035; 95% CI -0.052, -0.018) in subjects with poor glucoregulation. Neither CRF nor PA mediated these relations. In subjects with good glucoregulation, no association was found between GL and cognitive function (p>0.05). Conclusions: A low GL diet is associated with better cognitive function in older adults with poor glucoregulation. This study provides supportive evidence for the role of GL in maintaining better cognitive function during the aging process.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.EpidemiologyMental HealthNutritionglycemic loadcognitive functionglucoregulationimpaired glucose toleranceagingCognitive agingmiddle-agedagedcross-sectional studymaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/25033