Long-term Effects of Blueberry Supplementation on Brain Health in Older Adults

Brigham and Women's Hospital67 enrolled

Overview

This study will test whether consuming blueberry powder 20g/d for 24 weeks can improve memory and other cognitive function and alter serum biomarkers of brain injury among older adults.

In a randomized, double-blind placebo, controlled design, the investigators will test the effects of 20 g/d of blueberry powder for 24 weeks on cognitive function and serum biomarkers of brain injury among older adults.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cognitive Decline Nutrition, Healthy Brain Injuries

Interventions

Blueberry powderDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

20 g per day of blueberry powder

Controlled and matched powderOTHER

20 g per day

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsMax age: 99 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 65-99 years * Able to travel to Brigham and Women's Hospital for 4 clinic visits Exclusion Criteria: * Known allergies to blueberries * Unable to abstain from blueberry consumption during the study period * Inability to provide informed consent * Planned major surgery during study period or recent major surgery up to 3 months before recruitment * Organ transplant * Plan to move out of greater Boston area during the study period * Diagnosis of dementia, severe cognitive decline, end-stage renal disease, substance abuse, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, major cancer excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, and schizophrenia.

Locations (1)

Mass General Brigham

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in plasma concentration of neurofilament light (NFL) between baseline and 24 weeks

Change will be calculated as difference between plasma NFL concentration measured at 24 weeks and NFL concentration measured at baseline.

Time frame: Baseline and at 24 weeks after the intervention

Change in plasma concentration of phosphorylated tau (pTau-181) between baseline and 24 weeks

Change will be calculated as difference between plasma pTau-181 concentration measured at 24 weeks and plasma concentration of pTau-181 measured at baseline

Time frame: Baseline and at 24 weeks post intervention

Secondary Outcomes

Change in plasma concentration of glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAB) between baseline and 24 weeks

Change will be calculated as difference between plasma concentration of GFAB measured at 24 weeks and plasma GFAB concentration measured at baseline

Time frame: Baseline and at 24 weeks post intervention

Change in concentration of serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) between baseline and 24 weeks

Change will be computed as difference between serum concentration of NEFA measured at 24 weeks and serum NEFA concentration measured at baseline

Time frame: Baseline and 24 weeks post intervention

Change in cognitive battery test score between baseline and 24 weeks post intervention

The investigators will use CANTAB (computer-based and interactive software) to complete 8 cognitive battery tests including a) Motor screening task; b) Reaction time; c) Paired associates learning; d) Spatial working memory; e) Pattern recognition memory; f) Delayed matching to sample; g) Rapid visual information processing; and h) Match to sample visual search. The computer automatically calculates a composite score from these 8 tests (a-h) and the investigators will define change in cognitive battery test score as difference in composite score between 24 weeks and baseline.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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