Elderberries (Sambuci fructus) have been shown in a number of studies to have significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Multiple human and animal studies have supported the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of elderberry preparations and it has been used in natural medicine for hundreds of years. Studies examining factors that may decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease have revealed that drinking juices with similar properties to elderberries is one of the most reliable way to decrease risk. As such the investigators wish to determine the effects of elderberry juice on cognitive decline in a group of subjects at high risk for Alzheimer's disease, those with mild cognitive impairment. Elderberry juice is a commercially available nutritional supplement and easily available to this population.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
24
University of Missouri Hospital
Columbia, Missouri, United States
Visuospatial Problem Solving Battery (VSP)
Problem solving task for detecting non-memory impairments in MCI. Change in score is the outcome measure. The task is a timed task, with the outcome measured in seconds. Each item was allowed 240 seconds for solution, with times averaged for items. Therefore, there was a range of 0-240 with lower being better.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) Scale
Assesses memory, orientation, judgement and problem solving, community affairs, home/hobbies, personal care. Change in CDR was the outcome. CDR ranges from 0 to 3, with 3 being worse.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Screening for cognitive impairment sampling functions including arithmetic, memory and orientation. Change in MMSE was the outcome. the MMSE is a scale from 0 to 30 with a higher score being better.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT)
Assesses verbal learning and memory. Change in the HVLT was the outcome measure. The range for the HVLT is 0-36 with higher representing better memory.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Boston Naming Test (BNT)
Measures word retrieval. Change in the BNT is the primary outcome measure. The range is 0-60 with higher representing better performance.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Rey Complex Figure Task (Rey)
Participants reproduce complicated line drawings. Change in the Rey was the primary outcome measure. The range of the Rey is 0-36 with a higher score being better performance.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Anagrams
Rearranging letters to form words. Change in performance is the primary outcome measure. The task is timed, with each anagram allowed 120 seconds, so each word has a range of 0-120 seconds, and the average for the latency was calculated, for a range of 0-120 with lower numbers being better.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADLS)
Assesses daily self-care activities. Change in the IADLS is the primary outcome. Total items were added together for this use of the task, so the range was from 0 to 23, with higher being better.
Time frame: 12 wks, 6 mos
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.