"Sugar improves memory in older adults  and makes them more motivated to perform difficult tasks at full capacity  according to new research by the University of Warwick. Led by PhD student Konstantinos Mantantzis Professor Elizabeth Maylor and Dr Friederike Schlaghecken in Warwicks Department of Psychology the study found that increasing blood sugar levels not only improves memory and performance but makes older adults feel happier during a task.  The researchers gave young aged  and older aged  participants a drink containing a small amount of glucose and got them to perform various memory tasks. Other participants were given a placebo  a drink containing artificial sweetener. The researchers measured participants levels of engagement with the task their memory score mood and their own perception of effort. They found that increasing energy through a glucose drink can help both young and older adults to try harder compared to those who had the artificial sweetener. For young adults thats where it ended though glucose did not improve either their mood or their memory performance. However older adults who had a glucose drink showed significantly better memory and more positive mood compared to older adults who consumed the artificial sweetener. Moreover although objective measures of task engagement showed that older adults in the glucose group put more effort into the task than those who consumed the artificial sweetener their own selfreports showed that they did not feel as if they had tried any harder. The authors concluded that shortterm energy availability in the form of raised blood sugar levels could be an important factor in older adults motivation to perform a task at their highest capacity. Heightened motivation in turn could explain the fact that increased blood sugar levels also increase older adults sense of selfconfidence decrease selfperceptions of effort and improve mood. However more research is needed to disentangle these factors in order to fully understand how energy availability affects cognitive engagement and to develop clear dietary guidelines for older adults. Konstantinos Mantantzis a PhD student from the University of Warwicks Department of Psychology commented Over the years studies have shown that actively engaging with difficult cognitive tasks is a prerequisite for the maintenance of cognitive health in older age. Therefore the implications of uncovering the mechanisms that determine older adults levels of engagement cannot be understated. Dr Friederike Schlaghecken from the University of Warwicks Department of Psychology commented Our results bring us a step closer to understanding what motivates older adults to exert effort and finding ways of increasing their willingness to try hard even if a task seems impossible to perform.  Notes to editors The paper Gain Without Pain Glucose Promotes Cognitive Engagement and Protects Positive Affect in Older Adults is in press in Psychology and Aging. It is coauthored by PhD student Konstantinos Mantantzis Professor Elizabeth Maylor and Dr Friederike Schlaghecken at the University of Warwick UK. DOI httpsdoi.org.pag"