Pilot Study: Lipoic Acid and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Alzheimer's Prevention

Phase 1

Completed

Brief Summary: The primary aim of the pilot study is to provide data that can be used to better determine sample size for the design of a larger clinical trial. The pilot will evaluate the effectiveness of Lipoic Acid (LA) plus Omega-3 fatty acids (Omega-3) on preventing Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The investigators will also collect data to evaluate recruitment rate, safety, and compliance over the 12 month study period.

Detailed Description: The primary aim is to collect data so that we can determine effect size between lipoic acid plus omega-3 fatty acids and placebo on the primary outcome measure Trails B (executive function). This is designed as a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a 12 month intervention period. Thirty participants diagnosed with hypertension that is treated (systolic blood pressure 90-160 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure 60-90 mm Hg) that have low omega-3 fatty acid levels, and normal cognitive function will be randomized to receive study drug or placebo.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

55 years or older
Non-demented: Montreal Cognitive Assessment > 26 and Clinical Dementia Rating = 0
Diagnosis of Essential Hypertension with systolic 90-160 mm Hg and diastolic 60-90 mm Hg
Stable dose of antihypertensive medication 4 month prior to study enrollment
Stable dose of lipid lowering medication - dose must be stable for 4 months prior to study enrollment
Low Omega-3 fatty acid Status: Omega-3 index, < 4% of total fatty acid of combined docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentanoic acid
Geriatric Depression Scale < 5
General health status that will not interfere with the participant's ability to complete the study.
Screening laboratory values within normal limits or, if abnormal, deemed clinically insignificant by the investigator
Sufficient English language skills to complete all testing

Exclusion Criteria

Alzheimer's, Dementia or other neurodegenerative disease.
Health conditions such as cancer diagnosed < 5 years prior to enrollment (prostate cancer gleason grade < 3 and non metastatic skin cancers are acceptable), liver disease, history of ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, major psychiatric disorder, central nervous system diseases (e.g. brain tumor, seizure disorder)
Insulin dependent diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes (diabetes controlled on medications other than insulin are acceptable)
Fish intake of one 6 ounce serving > once a week less than 4 months prior to enrollment
Omega-3 fatty acid supplement intake (e.g. fish oil capsules, cod liver oil) less than 4 months prior to enrollment
Lipoic Acid supplementation less than 1 month prior to enrollment
Taking systemic corticosteroids, neuroleptics, antiparkinsonian agents, and/or narcotic analgesics. Low dose sinemet and dopamine agonist taken once a day for restless leg syndrome is not an exclusion.
Contraindications to MRI, including: subjects with intrathecal pumps, stimulators, pacemakers, aneurysm clips, non-removable hearing aids, or metal fragments in the eyes. Other exclusion criteria include the inability to lie flat on the back for 40 minutes at a time or a self-reported history of claustrophobia. Subjects with a history of hip replacement and those with well-documented, verifiable, MRI-safe cardiac stents will not be excluded from the study.
Enrollment in another treatment study

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	Three placebo oil capsules per day (2 caps morning, 1 cap evening) + 2 placebo LA capsules per day. Capsules will be taken with food or a meal.
Lipoic acid plus omega-3 fatty acids	Lipoic Acid plus Omega-3 Fatty Acids	Three 1-gram fish oil concentrate capsules per day (2 caps morning, 1 cap evening) containing a daily dose of 675 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 975 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus 2 LA capsules per day with a daily dose of 600 mg. Capsules will be taken with food or a meal.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Trails Making Test Part B (Executive Function)	Baseline, 6 months, and 12 months	The trail Making Test consist of 25 circles distributed over a sheet of paper. In Part A, the circles are numbered 1 - 25, and the patient should draw lines to connect the numbers in ascending order. In Part B, the circles include both numbers (1 - 13) and letters (A - L); as in Part A, the patient draws lines to connect the circles in an ascending pattern, but with the added task of alternating between the numbers and letters (i.e., 1-A-2-B-3-C, etc.). The patient should be instructed to connect the circles as quickly as possible, without lifting the pen or pencil from the paper. Time the patient as he or she connects the "trail." If the patient makes an error, point it out immediately and allow the patient to correct it. Results for part B are reported as the number of seconds required to complete the task; therefore, higher scores reveal greater impairment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
White Matter Hyperintensity Volume (Brain MRI)	Baseline and 12 months

Locations (2): Lynne Shinto, ND, MPH
🇺🇸
Portland, Oregon, United States
Oregon Health & Science University
🇺🇸
Portland, Oregon, United States