Dehydration refers to the loss of body water, with or without salt, at a rate greater than the body can replace it.

A study was conducted that looked at results of dehydration in soldiers. For full details, see The BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION, Jan 2014.

In this study, cognitive tests were completed in the following areas:
•short-term memory
•numerical ability
•psychomotor function (defined as
motor action directly proceeding from mental activity)
•sustained attention

Results of the study demonstrated cognitive deficits were dependent on the severity of dehydration. Performance in all cognitive tasks was affected when soldiers were in a severe state of dehydration (>2% body mass loss).

Studies measuring self-reported changes in mental state have consistently found associations between dehydration and MOOD in conjunction with changes in performance. When in a dehydrated state, people reported the following symptoms.
•mood swings
•being less alert
•difficulty concentrating
•fatigue
•difficulty completing the experimental tasks

For more information, see the NIH National Institute of Health, 2008.

© 2022, Dr. Darrell Pone. All rights reserved.