This study investigated the effects of a proprietorial herbal supplement, Turmeric Brainwave (now Mind focus), on cognition, mood and the microbiome in older adults experiencing subjective memory decline, following 90 days supplementation.
The primary aim of this randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups study was to assess the effects of a daily dose of Turmeric Brainwaves, versus placebo, both acutely and following 90 days consumption. Effects were to be assessed in 55-75 year old males and females who reported that their memory now was worse than when in their 20's. Effects were assessed via cognitive (including COMPASS and Cognimapp as well as 2 real-world long-term memory tasks (location-action (AKA Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP)) and recall of facts)) and mood (using visual analogue scales) outcomes and, additionally, stool and urine samples collected at the beginning and the end of the trial period assessed the microfloral community of the gut and urinary metabolome.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
174
A multiingredient herbal supplement with Turmeric as its most abundant single ingredient.
Brain Performance and Nutrition Research Centre
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Cognitive function (lab-based)
This outcome will be assessed via changes on the cognitive task outcomes (measured via COMPASS). COMPASS is a proprietorial software platform for delivering a range of cognitive tasks; assessing domains like memory and attention, with tasks scored for accuracy (% correct) and speed (msec).
Time frame: 90 days
Cognitive function (remote)
This outcome will be assessed via changes on the cognitive task outcomes (measured via Cognimapp). Cognimapp is a proprietorial software platform for delivering a range of cognitive tasks via mobile phone; assessing domains like memory and attention, with tasks scored for accuracy (% correct) and speed (msec).
Time frame: 90 days
Mood (Anxiety)
This outcome will be assessed via changes on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD 7) questionnaire. This questionnaire comprises 7 items which are scored from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day) with a higher score indicating greater anxiety.
Time frame: 90 days
Mood (General)
This outcome will be assessed via changes on Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). This VAS is a 100 mm line with mood related adjectives anchoring each end of the line. This is scored from mm distance along the line; with a higher score indicating greater feeling of that mood facet.
Time frame: 90 days
Prospective memory
This facet of memory is assessed by the Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) which is an 18-item list of locations and actions depicted within a 10-minute video. Participants must encode these locations and actions and recall them when watching this video at a later date.
Time frame: 90 days
Delayed recall
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This is a real-world recall of 10 facts, created by the principal investigator for the purposes of this study, which participants encode at the start of the trial and must recall at the end.
Time frame: 90 days
Gut microbiota
This will be assessed by any shifts in gut microbial species from a stool sample collected at the start of the trial compared to the stool sample taken at the end.
Time frame: 90 days
Urinary metabolome
This will be assessed by any shifts in markers identified within the urinary metabolome from a urine sample collected at the start of the trial compared to the urine sample taken at the end.
Time frame: 90 days