Total Cholesterol Levels and Sustained Attention in University Undergraduates
University students often exhibit unhealthy eating patterns, and several studies have documented negative associations between serum total cholesterol (TC) levels and cognitive function in mature adult samples. Therefore, university students may be at risk for functionally meaningful cognitive decre...
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Published in | North American journal of psychology Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 81 - 90 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Winter Garden
North American Journal of Psychology
01.03.2018
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | University students often exhibit unhealthy eating patterns, and several studies have documented negative associations between serum total cholesterol (TC) levels and cognitive function in mature adult samples. Therefore, university students may be at risk for functionally meaningful cognitive decrements resulting from poor dietary choices. This study examined the relationship between TC levels and sustained attention in university undergraduates. Following an overnight fast, TC levels were measured, and each participant completed the Conners Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II). After controlling for self-reported sex, caffeine consumption, and use of hormone-based contraceptives, participants with TC[greater than or equal to]155 mg/dL were found to make significantly more omission errors and perseverations on the CPT-II than participants with TC< 155mg/dL. Student health programs should emphasize the positive cognitive outcomes of healthy dietary practices in addition to their beneficial effects on systemic health. |
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ISSN: | 1527-7143 |