Mild exercise in female subjects impairs complex learning independent of hydration status and emotion

Gonadal hormones in female rats protect against dehydration-induced memory impairments in the novel object recognition paradigm

Dehydration impairs cognitive performance in humans and rodents, although studies in animal models are limited. Estrogens have both protective effects on fluid regulation and improve performance in certain cognitive tasks. We, therefore, tested whether sex and gonadal hormones influence object recognition memory during dehydration. Because past studies used fluid deprivation to induce dehydration, which is a mixture of intracellular and extracellular fluid loss, we tested the effects of osmotic (loss of intracellular fluid) and hypovolemic (loss of extracellular fluid) dehydration on object recognition memory. After training trials consisting of exposure to two identical objects, rats were either treated with hypertonic saline to induce osmotic dehydration, furosemide to induce hypovolemic dehydration, or received a control injection and then object recognition memory was tested by presenting the original and a novel object. After osmotic dehydration, regardless of group or treatment, all rats spent significantly more time investigating the novel object. After hypovolemic dehydration, regardless of treatment, both the males and estrous females spent significantly more time investigating the novel object. While the control-treated diestrous females also spent significantly more time investigating the novel object, the furosemide-treated diestrous females spent a similar amount of time investigating the novel and original object. Follow up studies determined that loss of ovarian hormones after ovariectomy, but not loss of testicular hormones after castration, resulted in impaired memory performance in the object recognition test after hypovolemic dehydration. This series of experiments provides evidence for a protective role of ovarian hormones on dehydration-induced memory impairments.

Dehydration Impairs Cognitive Performance: A Meta-analysis

Dehydration (DEH) is believed to impair cognitive performance but which domains are affected and at what magnitude of body mass loss (BML) remains unclear.

PURPOSE

To conduct systematic literature review and meta-analysis to determine the effect size (ES) of DEH on cognitive performance and influence of experimental design factors (e.g., DEH > 2% BML).

METHODS

Thirty-three studies were identified, providing 280 ES estimates from 413 subjects with DEH ranging from 1% to 6% BML. Outcome variables (accuracy, reaction time), cognitive domains, and methods to induce DEH varied. Effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences and multivariate meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Impairment of cognitive performance (all domains/outcomes) with DEH was small but significant (ES = -0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.31 to -0.11; P < 0.0001) with significant heterogeneity (Q(279) = 696.0, P < 0.0001; I = 37.6%). Tasks of executive function (ES = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.37 to -0.12), attention (ES = -0.52; 95% CI: -0.66 to -0.37), and motor coordination (ES = -0.40 to 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.17) were significantly impaired (P ≤ 0.01) after DEH, and attention/motor coordination was different (P < 0.001) from reaction time specific tasks (ES = -0.10; 95% CI: -0.23 to 0.02). Body mass loss was associated with the ES for cognitive impairment (P = 0.04); consequently, impairment was greater (P = 0.04) for studies reporting >2% BML (ES = -0.28; 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.16) compared with ≤2%; (ES = -0.14; 95% CI: -0.27 to 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite variability among studies, DEH impairs cognitive performance, particularly for tasks involving attention, executive function, and motor coordination when water deficits exceed 2% BML.

Water intake reverses dehydration associated impaired executive function in healthy young women

INTRODUCTION

Healthy women do not always consume Recommended Daily Levels of fluid intake ad libitum. We hypothesized that 1) women lose≥1.0% BW during daily activities, 2) that mild body water loss impairs memory and executive function, 3) water intake to recommended daily levels will improve cognitive function.

METHODS

We tested 12 women (26±5yr, 22.5±2.6kg/m² BMI). Session 1 was a control (CON) session, during which subjects monitored their food and fluid intake (diary) and activity (Fitbit®). The next two sessions were applied in balanced order: dehydration (DEH) session, where subjects minimized drinking, and a euhydration (EUH) session, where subjects drank Recommended Daily Levels of fluid for their age and sex, or 2500ml/24h. We compared emotion, sensory perception and cognition with computer based visual analog tests and computer based cognitive tasks (Cogstate) at 5PM, i.e. baseline (BL) on the evening prior to the session, and at 7AM, 12PM, and 5PM during the session.

RESULTS

Urine specific gravity (USG) was similar at BL across conditions (CON 1.013±0.002, DEH 1.015±0.002, EUH 1.014±0.002) and increased with dehydration (CON 1.011±0.003, DEH 1.021±0.002, EUH 1.010±0.002, P<0.05) by 5PM of the session. Uncontrolled fluid intake and physical activity were similar across sessions. The water challenges did not impact Detection, Identification, One-Card Learning, but EUH improved visual and working memory (Groton Maze Learning Test) errors: CON 40.1±11.1, DEH 40.5±10.1, EUH 33.9±10.9, P<0.05. Executive function [Set Shifting (SETS)] also improved under EUH, errors: BL 22.5±12.7 vs. 5PM 17.8±6.2, P<0.05.

CONCLUSIONS

Mild dehydration caused deficits in visual and working memory and executive function in healthy young women. These deficits were reversed by drinking water to the European Food Safety Authority and Institute of Medicine requirements of 2.5l/day for adult women.