Role of Dietary Carbohydrates in Cognitive Function: A Review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing pathways and associations without systematic review methodology.
PubMed 40599356 · doi:10.1002/fsn3.70516
What was done
The authors synthesized literature examining the relationship between dietary carbohydrate intake (simple versus complex carbohydrates, as well as carbohydrate supplementation during intense physical activity) and cognitive performance, mental health, and underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data or effect sizes. It reports qualitative associations: simple carbohydrate intake is linked to overall cognitive decline, whereas complex carbohydrate intake is linked to short- and long-term memory improvements and successful brain aging. Additionally, carbohydrate supplementation is noted to enhance cognitive performance during prolonged, high-intensity physical activity. Proposed biological pathways include glucose and insulin metabolism, neurotransmitter effects, and cerebral oxidation and inflammation.
Why it matters
This review provides a conceptual overview distinguishing the neurocognitive impacts of simple versus complex carbohydrates across metabolic and inflammatory pathways.
Limits
The abstract reports no quantitative metrics, sample sizes, or formal systematic search methodology. As a narrative review, it is prone to selection bias and cannot establish causal relationships between carbohydrate types and cognitive outcomes.
Cited by
- supports Glucose is the major fuel for human cells, especially brain cells, and directly affects brain function, mood, and energy levels.