Fatty Acid Modulation of Brain Function in Older Adults

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Aging

In brief

In this crossover study, the investigtors will administer two experimental diets in a random order for one week, and each experimental diet will be preceded by a one-week, low fat control diet for a total four-week study period. The goal is to study how the fatty acid content of the diet affects brain functioning in healthy adults aged 65-75 years. One experimental diet will have a high palmitic acid (PA)/oleic acid (OA) ratio (HPA), typical of the North American diet. The other experimental diet will have a low PA/OA ratio (HOA), typical of the Mediterranean Diet. All allowed food and drink (except water) will be provided by the investigative team, and compliance will be enhanced by constant, intense dietary surveillance by a registered dietitian.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT06192407

Run by

University of Vermont

People needed

60

Starts

2024-04-15

Expected to finish

2028-10-31

Last updated by the study team

2025-09-17

Who can join

Age: 65 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Men and women age range 65-75 years
• Normal cognition (see Research Strategy for details on cognitive assessments)
• "Healthy" (body mass index (BMI) of 20-40 kg/m2)

You may not qualify if…

• Significant cognitive or behavioral impairment (see Research Strategy for testing and exclusions) or pharmacological treatment for this (e.g. antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedative medications).
• Hormone replacement therapy, past 3 months.
• Hyper-androgenic condition.
• HbA1C≥7.5% and or Fasting plasma glucose concentration ≥130 mg/dL.
• Type 2 Diabetes if receiving any other therapy than metformin.
• Use of nicotine or ingestion of caffeine or alcohol during the study.
• Habitual fat intake < 25% of kcal or strict vegetarian diet.
• Sleep apnea requiring continuous positive airway pressure at night.
• Lung, cardiac (heart failure or its treatment), liver disease, renal disease, cancer, and any other medical disorder known or thought to cause inflammation or abnormalities of cognition
• Actively training for an athletic event or participating in competitive sports (such as league play or tournaments)
• Intolerance or allergy to any of the food provided in the study.

Where it is running

• University of Vermont — Burlington, Vermont, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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