The Effect of Blueberry Consumption on Brain Health in Older Adults: in Vivo Measures of Cerebral Antioxidant and Cerebral Blood Flow
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 63
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in cerebral blood flow (CBF)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine if increased blueberry intake helps increase brain antioxidant (glutathione) and cerebral blood flow in older adults.
Detailed Description
Consuming blueberries may improve brain health of older adults by increasing the antioxidant levels in the brain to protect nerve cells in the aging brain. Researchers think that there may be a relationship between the brain's antioxidant defense system and blueberry intake due to the high antioxidant content in blueberries.
This study will investigate if blueberry intake may aid in enhancing glutathione levels and cerebral blood flow using special Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
Participants will be asked to make a total of up to 4 visits to the research site. Participation will last about 3 months.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to 89 Years (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Speak English as the primary language and be able to read and write.
- •Good general health with no concomitant diseases
- •Low berry consumption (≤1 serving/week)
- •Cognitively normal (Mini-Mental State Exam Score ≥24)
- •BMI range=18.5-35 kg/m2.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Presence of any central neurological diseases or prior major head trauma with loss of consciousness
- •Presence of an active unstable and life-threatening systemic illness
- •Presence of major psychiatric disorders within the past 3 years including depression, anxiety, and alcohol or drug abuse
- •Presence of diabetes mellitus; metabolic syndrome or uncontrolled hypertension
- •Use of psychoactive and investigational medications
- •MRI contraindications (pacemaker, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, metal fragments, foreign objects or claustrophobia)
- •Blueberry or salicylate allergy
- •Pregnancy
Arms & Interventions
Intervention
Participants will receive the dietary intervention. Participants will take 1 serving of blueberries/day.
Intervention: Intervention (Dietary Supplement)
Control
Participants will receive a placebo. Participants will take 1 serving of placebo/day.
Intervention: Control (Dietary Supplement)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in cerebral blood flow (CBF)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 3 months
Measure of CBF with a 3 T MRI scanner
Change in brain glutathione (GSH) levels
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 3 months
Measure of brain GSH with a 3 T MRI scanner
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
In-Young Choi, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurology
University of Kansas Medical Center