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The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Brain Health

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Intermittent Fasting
Aging
Interventions
Other: Time restricted eating
Registration Number
NCT06019195
Lead Sponsor
University of Oklahoma
Brief Summary

The central hypothesis of this study is that closer adherence to time restricted eating (TRE) will improve endothelial function, neurovascular (NVC) responses, resulting in improved cognitive performance, potentially through activation of SIRT1-dependent vasoprotective pathways.

Detailed Description

This hypothesis will be tested by assessing the effect of TRE (not more than 10hr eating window each day for 6 months) in healthy older adults (55-80 years of age).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
32
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥55 and ≤80 years of age
  • Adequate hearing and visual acuity to participate in the examinations
  • Ability to read and write in English
  • Competence to provide informed consent.
  • Mini Montreal Cognitive Assessment ≥12
  • Mini Nutritional Assessment ≥12
Exclusion Criteria
  • Vision or hearing impairment that would impair the ability to complete study assessments
  • Active CNS disease including multiple sclerosis, uncontrolled seizures, active brain cancer
  • Cerebrovascular accident other than TIA within 60 days prior to Visit 0
  • Major psychiatric disease, including major depression not currently controlled on medications, alcohol or drug abuse
  • Diabetics prescribed sulfonylureas, meglitinides, and insulin
  • Any other medical condition which, in the opinion of investigator, would render the patient inappropriate or too unstable to complete the study protocol

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Time restricted eatingTime restricted eatingnot more than 10 hrs. eating window daily goal for 6 months
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in neurovascular coupling using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)baseline, up to 6 months

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be performed during the cognitive n-back task. fNIRS approach generates data that represent a relative change in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin measured over the cortical brain tissues. Neurovascular coupling will be evaluated as a change in oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin between before and after completion of study.

Change in EEG spectrabaseline, up to 6 months

EEG signal will be collected to generate spectral data. These data will be used for comparison of EEG activity between before and after treatment. Units of measure - power spectral density. Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after completion of study.

Change in neurovascular coupling using the dynamic retinal vessel analysisbaseline, up to 6 months

Flicker light-induced dilation of the retinal vessels (percentage increase over baseline diameter) will be measured in the right or left eye of each study participant using the Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (DVA, IMEDOS Systems, Jena, Germany). The change in retinal vessel diameters is tracked and reported as a %change from baseline, before and after completion of study.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in microvascular endothelial functionbaseline, up to 6 months

Changes in microvascular endothelial function will be assessed using laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) in the hand using the flow mediated dilation approach. The change in skin perfusion is calculated and reported as a %change from baseline, between before and after completion of study.

Change in arterial stiffnessbaseline, up to 6 months

The arterial stiffness will be measured using the pulse wave analysis approach (SphygmoCor, Atcor medical, Itasca IL, or similar). Analysis generated the augmentation index which will be used for comparison before and after completion of study.

Change in Attentionbaseline, up to 6 months

The allocation of one's limited capacities to deal with an abundance of environmental stimulation will be measured in a combined "Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test".Units of measure - score (from 0 to 10, bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.

Change in Executive Functionbaseline, up to 6 months

The capacity to plan, organize and monitor the executive of behaviors that are strategically directed in a goal-oriented manner will be measured using the "Dimensional Change Card Sort Test". Units of measure - score (from 0 to 10, bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.

Body compositionbaseline, up to 6 months

Weight and body composition using a bioimpedance scale and/or DXA scan. Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after completion of study

Change in Glycocalyx - perfused boundary regionbaseline, up to 6 months

Video recordings of the sublingual vasculature will be performed using the high definition video camera GlycoCheck (Microvascular health solutions). Data collected will include perfused boundary region (um), and will be used for comparison before and after completion of study.

Change in Working Memorybaseline, up to 6 months

The ability to store information until the amount of information to be stored exceeds one's capacity to hold that information will be measured using the "List Sorting Working Memory Test". Unit of measure - overall score (bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.

Change in capillary densitybaseline, up to 6 months

Video recordings of the sublingual vasculature will be performed using the high definition video camera GlycoCheck (Microvascular health solutions). Data collected will include capillary density (mm/mm\^2), and will be used for comparison before and after completion of study.

Change in red blood cell velocitybaseline, up to 6 months

Video recordings of the sublingual vasculature will be performed using the high definition video camera GlycoCheck (Microvascular health solutions). Data collected will include red blood cell velocity (um/sec), and will be used for comparison before and after treatment.

Total daily energy expenditurebaseline, up to 6 months

Total daily energy expenditure will be estimated using the Mifflin-St. Jeor equation. Estimated total daily energy expenditure will be used to determine whether a participant was in a hypocaloric, eucaloric, or hypercaloric state during the intervention.

Change in blood metabolic panel markersbaseline, up to 6 months

Complete metabolic panel. Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after completion of study

Change in BOLD signalbaseline, up to 6 months

Using fMRI, we will determine the changes in BOLD activation during standardized cognitive task. Reported as change in BOLD signal before and after intervention.

Change in Processing Speedbaseline, up to 6 months

Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test assesses the amount of information that can be processed within a certain unit of time. Items are simple so as to purely measure processing speed. Units of measure - score (from 0 to 130, bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.

Dietary intakesbaseline, up to 6 months

Dietary intake data for 24-hour recalls will be collected and analyzed using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool, version 2022, developed by the National Cancer Institute (https://epi.grants.cancer.gov/asa24). Estimated dietary intakes will be used to determine whether a participant was in a hypocaloric, eucaloric, or hypercaloric state during the intervention.

Change in Languagebaseline, up to 6 months

Picture Vocabulary Test measures receptive vocabulary administered in a computer-adaptive test (CAT) format. Respondents select the picture that most closely matches the meaning of the word, before and after treatment. Unit of measure - overall score (bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.

Change in Episodic Memorybaseline, up to 6 months

Cognitive processes involved in the acquisition, storage and retrieval of new information, will be measured using the "Picture Sequence Memory Test". Unit of measure - overall score (bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Translational GeroScience Laboratory

🇺🇸

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

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