Whole Coffee Cherry Study
Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Effect of Drug
In brief
There has been increasing interest in natural dietary supplements that may support healthy cognition. Recent studies have demonstrated promising effects of bioactive phytochemicals (e.g., polyphenols) on cardiovascular and endocrine health outcomes. As such, an increasingly intriguing line of inquiry is whether materials high in these compounds may also have effects on psychological measures. Preliminary evidence suggests that polyphenols may improve cognition, for example, particularly in aging populations. Whole coffee cherry extract (WCCE; otherwise known as the generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) supplement Neurofactor(TM)), is a proprietary, safe, powdered extract of whole coffee cherries from coffea arabica with high levels of polyphenols and substantially low (\<2%; \<4mg) levels of caffeine. WCCE has been previously associated with increased serum concentrations of both circulating and exosomal brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in addition to increased alertness and decreased fatigue. However, few well-powered and well-designed studies have been conducted despite the mounting preliminary evidence. Here, the investigators propose a study to examine the long-term effects of a 200mg dose of WCCE on measures of cognition.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT04986956
- Run by
- Auburn University
- People needed
- 323
- Starts
- 2022-02-01
- Expected to finish
- 2024-01-29
- Last updated by the study team
- 2024-01-30
Who can join
Age: 40 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Between 40-65 years of age
- No diagnosed psychiatric or neurological condition
- Reliable internet service
- Moderate computer literacy
- Individuals must have a smartphone
- Individuals must have a laptop, desktop, or iPad
You may not qualify if…
- Individuals taking medications known to alter cognitive functioning (e.g., psychotropic medications such as fluoxetine, benzodiazepines, etc.)
- Individuals taking medications that alter metabolic function, such as insulin or metformin.
- Shift workers
- Health conditions that would prevent an individual from successfully completing the study (I.e., motor control conditions such as Parkinson's, or psychiatric conditions such as ADHD)
- Individuals with metabolic conditions
- Have had or currently have cancer
- Have taken CBD or multivitamins in the last 2 weeks
- Individuals with unreliable or no internet access/service
- Individuals who are unable to use a smartphone or are lacking the computer literacy necessary to complete the study remotely
- Individuals without a laptop, desktop or iPad that would prevent them from completing the study.
Where it is running
- Auburn University — Auburn, Alabama, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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