Effects of Dietary Interventions on the Aging Brain

University Hospital Muenster

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 3

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 (fish oil capsules); Behavioral: Caloric restriction; Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Resveratrol

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00996229

Ernaehrung-Neuromod 02

Details and patient eligibility

About

The researchers will investigate whether caloric restriction or dietary supplementation could provide positive effects on general brain functions in healthy elderly people.

Full description

The age-related degradation of cognitive functions even to the point of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are a growing public-health concern with devastating effects.

Referring to animal data, empirical studies, and pilot human trials, a healthy diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids and low in calories should improve cognitive functions such as learning and memory. To test this hypothesis, the researchers study general brain functions in healthy elderly subjects (50-80 years old) during a short term diet.

Enrollment: 300 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• healthy subjects
• 50-80 years old
• moderate to heavy weight (BMI 25-30)
• must be able to change diet/take supplements at home

Exclusion criteria

• diabetes
• younger than 50 years
• BMI < 25
• psychiatric medication
• severe disease
• MMSE < 26
• eating disorders

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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300 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Caloric restriction + placebo supplementation

Experimental group

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Behavioral: Caloric restriction

Omega-3 supplementation

Experimental group

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Omega-3 (fish oil capsules)

Placebo supplementation

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo

Resveratrol supplementation

Experimental group

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Resveratrol