Cognition, Hydration
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to determine whether drinking plain water when mildly dehydrated benefits cognitive performance and mood. Volunteers undergo a dehydration protocol designed to result in minor dehydration. While some participants receive two 150ml drinks of water others do not. Differences in cognitive functioning are assessed.
Detailed description
As an essential nutrient, an inadequate intake of water has negative consequences: without a source of water death will occur in days. When Benton and Young (2015) reviewed the topic they concluded that in healthy adults, mild dehydration (in the range of a loss of 2% body mass) had been found to adversely influence mood and cognition. However, it is unclear at what degree of hypohydration these effects begin to emerge. This study was designed to determine whether small changes in hydration, of the level that might occur on a day to day basis, influence cognition and mood. During a dehydration protocol (sitting in a room heated to 30 degrees for four hours) young adult participants receive either drink two 150ml cups of water or nothing. Effects on memory, attention and mood are monitored.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTWater
Participants will receive two cups of 150ml plain water
Sponsors
Swansea University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* In good general health i.e. no major health condition such as diabetes * BMI \< 30
Exclusion criteria
* Not on blood pressure medication or blood thinning medication such as aspirin - No learning difficulty such as dyslexia * Diabetes * Gastro-intestinal disease * High BMI * Cholesterol and BP * Smoker * Dyslexic/dyspraxic * Depression or history of depression or other psychiatric disorder
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Episodic memory - list of 30 words | change from 0 to 180 minutes after the start of the dehydration protocol | Participants listen to a list of 30 words presented using a tape recorder. The words are of similar difficulty and matched for the number of syllables and frequency with which they occur in English. The subjects are asked to recall and write down as many words as possible. The difference in the total number of words remembered from baseline (before the intervention) is analysed. |
| Focused attention - Eriksen Flanker Task | change from 0 to 180 minutes after the start of the dehydration protocol | The Arrow Flankers test measures the ability to direct attention and ignore peripheral information. Participants are required to indicate whether the middle arrow is pointing to the right or left by pressing the corresponding arrow on the keyboard. Either side of the central arrow are distractors. Both the average reaction times (in milliseconds) and accuracy are recorded. The difference in performance from baseline (before the intervention) is analysed. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Thirst (Participants rate their thirst) | change from 0 to 180 minutes after the start of the dehydration protocol | Participants rate their thirst |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of weight lost due to dehydration protocol | 180 minutes | participants will be weighed at the start and end of the dehydration protocol and % weight loss calculated |
| Body temperature | 180 minutes | Change in body temperature will be monitored throughout |
| Urine Osmolality | 180 minutes | Urine samples will be collected at the start and end of the procedure so that changes in osmolality can be measured. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed