SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2011
Carbohydrates for improving the cognitive performance of independent-living older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 26 citations in OpenAlex.
- Carbohydrates for improving the cognitive performance of independent-living older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2011Pooled it
- Article
- Campbell and Cochrane evidence on promoting cognitive capacity across life course: a mapping review.Age and ageing · 2025Article
- Role of Dietary Carbohydrates in Cognitive Function: A Review.Food science & nutrition · 2025Review
- Sex Disparity in the Nutrition-Related Determinants of Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Case-Control Study.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Transcriptomic Analysis of Glycosylation and Neuroregulatory Pathways in Rodent Models in Response to Psychedelic Molecules.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- 4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023.Diabetes care · 2023Review
- The Burden of Carbohydrates in Health and Disease.Nutrients · 2022Review
- The Relationship Between Mild Cognitive Impairment and Anti-Inflammatory/Pro-Inflammatory Nutrients in the Elderly in Northern China: A Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression Approach.Journal of inflammation research · 2022Article
- 4. Comprehensive Medical Evaluation and Assessment of Comorbidities: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2022.Diabetes care · 2022Review
- Dietary interventions in mild cognitive impairment and dementia.Dialogues in clinical neuroscience · 2019Review
- The Relationship Between Plasma DPP4 Activity to BDNF Ratio and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Population With Normal Glucose Tolerance.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2019Article
- What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about non-pharmacological interventions for treating cognitive decline and dementia?Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicinaReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate state between normal cognition and dementia in which daily function is largely intact. This condition may present an opportunity for research into the prevention of dementia. Carbohydrate is an essential and easily accessible macronutrient which influences cognitive performance. A better understanding of carbohydrate-driven cognitive changes in normal cognition and mild cognitive impairment may suggest ways to prevent or reduce cognitive decline.
objectivesTo assess the effectiveness of carbohydrates in improving cognitive function in older adults. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched ALOIS, the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group Specialized Register on 22 June 2010 using the terms: carbohydrates OR carbohydrate OR monosaccharides OR disaccharides OR oligosaccharides OR polysaccharides OR CARBS. ALOIS contains records from all major healthcare databases (The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS) as well as from many trial databases and grey literature sources. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials (RCT) that have examined the efficacy of any form of carbohydrates in normal cognition and MCI. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One review author selected and retrieved relevant articles for further assessment. The remaining authors independently assessed whether any of the retrieved trials should be included. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. MAIN
resultsThere is no suitable RCT of any form of carbohydrates involving independent-living older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. AUTHORS'
conclusionsThere are no suitable RCTs on which to base any recommendations about the use of any form of carbohydrate for enhancing cognitive performance in older adults with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. More studies of many different carbohydrates are needed to tease out complex nutritional issues and further evaluate memory improvement.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.