The Effect of Consumption of Almonds and Snack Mix Daily for 6 Months on Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Cognitive impairment is also a major risk factor for development of dementia later in life. Findings from recent studies suggest that the there are many nutrients contained in foods that may be important in cognitive function in the elderly. This study evaluates long-term intervention with almonds and snack mix as a treatment strategy for age-related cognitive impairment which could possibly prevent the onset of dementia.
The proposed study is designed as a randomized, placebo controlled trial that tests the effects of 6 month supplementation with 1.5 or 3 ounces of almonds or 3 ounces of shortbread containing coconut oil on cognitive function in older adults. Secondary outcomes include plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
The study is designed as a controlled trial that tests the effects of 6 month supplementation with 1.5 or 3 ounces of almonds or 3 ounces of snack mix a day on cognitive function in older adults. Subjects will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups. Secondary outcomes include plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Participants will be recruited from community-dwelling men and women aged greater than of equal to 50 yr and less than or equal to 75 years and potential participants will be screened to meet cognitive and functional criteria. Participants will be pre-screened by telephone; those who appear to meet criteria will undergo further screening.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Placebo Comparator: snack mix snack mix, 3 ounces: dried coconut, meat jerky, butter, cereal party mix |
Dietary Supplement: snack mix
commercial cereal mix with bits of beef jerky and coconut
|
| Active Comparator: almonds, 1.5 ounces almonds, 1.5 ounces/day |
Dietary Supplement: almonds, 1.5 oz
almonds, 1.5 oz/day
|
| Active Comparator: almonds, 3 ounces almonds, 3 ounces/day |
Dietary Supplement: almonds, 3 oz
almonds, 3.0 oz/day
Other Names:
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- executive function executive function assessed by test administered via CANTAB (www.cambridgecognition.com) [change from baseline executive function at 6 months]
tests administered via CANTAB (www.cambridgecognition.com)
Secondary Outcome Measures
- attention assessed by test administered via CANTAB (www.cambridgecognition.com) [change from baseline attention at 6 months]
test administered via CANTAB (www.cambridgecognition.com)
- visual memory assessed by test administered via CANTAB (www.cambridgecognition.com) [change from baseline visual memory at 6 months]
test administered via CANTAB (www.cambridgecognition.com)
- inflammation - serum C-reactive protein as measured by ELISA kit [change from baseline serum CRP concentration at 6 months]
serum C-reactive protein - ELISA kit
- inflammation - serum IL6 as measured by ELISA kit [change from baseline serum IL-6 concentration at 6 months]
serum IL-6 - ELISA kit
- inflammation - serum IL12 as measured by ELISA kit [change from baseline serum IL-12 concentration at 6 months]
serum IL12 - ELISA kit
- inflammation - serum ICAM as measured by ELISA kit [change from baseline serum ICAM concentration at 6 months]
serum ICAM - ELISA kit
- plasma fatty acids [change from baseline plasma fatty acids concentration at 6 months]
measured by gas chromatography
- plasma alpha-tocopherol [change from baseline plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration at 6 months]
measured by high pressure liquid chromatography
- plasma magnesium [change from baseline plasma magnesium concentration at 6 months]
measured by atomic emission spectroscopy
- fatty acids in red blood cells [change from baseline fatty acids concentration in red blood cells at 6 months]
measured by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy
- oxidative stress - aminothiols [change from baseline serum aminothiols at 6 months]
serum aminothiols - HPLC
- oxidative stress - isoprostanes [change from baseline urinary isoprostanes at 6 months]
urinary isoprostanes - spectrophotometer
- oxidative stress - superoxide dismutase [change from baseline serum superoxide dismutase at 6 months]
serum superoxide dismutase - ELISA kit
- oxidative stress - glutathione peroxidase [change from baseline serum glutathione peroxidase at 6 months]
serum glutathione peroxidase - ELISA kit
- oxidative stress - glutathione reductase [change from baseline serum glutathione reductase at 6 months]
serum glutathione reductase - ELISA kti
- total serum cholesterol [change from baseline total serum cholesterol at 6 months]
colormetric assay Beckman Coulter AU400
- serum low density lipoprotein [change from baseline serum low density lipoprotein at 6 months]
colormetric assay Beckman Coulter AU400
- serum high density lipoprotein [change from baseline serum high density lipoprotein at 6 months]
colormetric assay Beckman Coulter AU400
- serum very low density lipoprotein [change from baseline serum very low density lipoprotein at 6 months]
colormetric assay Beckman Coulter AU400
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
men and women age >50 - 75 years
-
body mass index >25-35 kg/m2
-
Mini mental state exam (MMSE) score >24
-
must be able to give written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
-
history of active small bowel disease or resection
-
atrophic gastritis
-
uncontrolled blood pressure or untreated hypertension alcoholism (>2 drinks/d or 14 drinks/week)
-
abnormal hematologic parameters that are determined by the study MD to influence study outcomes.
-
endocrine disorders including diabetes or current pharmacological treatment of diabetes and untreated thyroid disease
-
pancreatic disease
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anemia, and bleeding disorders
-
nut allergy
-
major chronic illness that might interfere with the study outcomes
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active cancer except for prostate cancer or cancer-free for at least 5 years
-
unwilling to not use lutein, n3 fatty acid, or choline supplements for 2 months prior to study start
-
diseases that interfere with fat absorption, e.g. colitis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis (as determined by screening interview)
-
rheumatologic diseases including gout or inflammatory arthritis
-
immune deficiency conditions including autoimmune dieases, human immune deficiency virus (HIV); history of organ transplantation
-
medications that interfere with fat absorption, e.g. bile sequestrants (as determined by screening interview)
-
use of antipsychotic, antimanic, anti-inflammatory (except for aspirin and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs[NSAIDS]), monoamine inhibitors, or dementia medications
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inability to discontinue aspirin, NSAIDS for 72 hours prior to and for the duration of testing at study visits (baseline, 3 and 6 months)
-
daily intake of proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers
-
smoking or use of nicotine patches or gum (within past 6 months)
-
use of drugs suspected of interfering with metabolism of blood clotting with the exception of aspirin and NSAIDS, e.g. warfarin (as determined by screening interview)
-
stroke, head injury with loss of consciousness or seizures.
-
history or clinical manifestation of any significant neurologic disorder in the opinion of the investigator.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University | Boston | Massachusetts | United States | 02111 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Tufts University
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Elizabeth J Johnson, PhD, Tufts University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 003