The effect of fruit anthocyanins in participants attending a cognitive rehabilitation group for mild cognitive impairment: A randomised controlled trial.

The study aims to evaluate the combined effect of a cognitive rehabilitation group (CRG) with intake of Queen Garnet plum (QGP) juice, to optimise cognition in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Biomedical measures would contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms of action associated with cognitive improvements. The study would include an 8week, doubleblind randomised controlled trial with two arms, CRG plus control intervention, and CRG plus 250mL QGP juice daily for 8 weeks (consumed in one sitting or in smaller doses throughout the day), using MCI patients referred to the ISLHD Geriatric Outpatient Services or Rehabilitation and Medical Psychology Department. Recruitment and research consent of participants will occur within ISLHD clinics, with an aim of 72 subjects. Participants will return the empty bottles in order to assess intervention compliance. Participants will attend a data collection session at baseline, conducted by Clinical Neuropsychologist and a Research Assistant, where participants will undergo the neuropsychological test battery, collection of demographic data, a food frequency questionnaire and instructions for a 4day food record, and blood collection. Across the six weeks of the CRG participants will learn about the functional memory processes of attention/encoding, storage and retrieval in collective educational sessions. The program will present how to apply internal and external techniques and provide strategies to enhance these processes. The groups will be comprised of 4 to 12 subjects, one sessions of 2 hours per week and adherence will be monitored by an attendance log. Subjects will be provided a 24hour Blood Pressure monitoring device, a urine and faecal sample collection kit, and their supplement/placebo to commence. These assessment procedures will be repeated at 8 weeks.