Diet and lifestyle factors associated with cognitive performance in college students

• Published in: Journal of American college health 2022-10, Vol.70 (7), p.2230-2236
• Main Authors: Pilato, Ilana B., Beezhold, Bonnie, Radnitz, Cynthia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior change; Cognitive ability; Cognitive functioning; Cognitive performance; Cognitive Processes; Cognitive-behavioral factors; College Students; Computerization; Diet; Dietetics; Eating Habits; Executive Function; Fast food; Fish; Fluid intake; Food; Food consumption; Fruit; health; Hydration; Life Style; Lifestyles; Neuropsychology; Oral Language; Recall (Psychology); Seafood; Stimuli; Student Behavior; Thinking Skills; Verbal memory; Visual Learning; Visual memory; Water
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1847118

Objective Engaging in a healthy diet and positive lifestyle behaviors have been shown to improve cognitive functioning in children and older adults, however, few have examined these factors in college-aged students. Participants: A diverse sample of 115 college students were recruited on two university campuses. Method: Completed computerized cognitive testing and an online survey about diet and lifestyle behaviors. Results: All analyses were conducted with Pearson's correlations. Higher fruit consumption was correlated with better visual memory scores. Higher seafood consumption was correlated with better learning performance. Increased fast food consumption was correlated with poorer executive functioning in resident students and poorer visual memory performance in commuter students. Increased fluid intake on testing day was correlated with better visual memory and better verbal memory performance. Conclusions: Behavioral changes such as increasing hydration, eating more fruit and fish, and eating less fast food may improve cognitive performance in college students.