Gene Expression, Memory
Conditions
Keywords
fruit polyphenols, phytochemicals, neurocognition, neuropsychology, psychopharmacology, gene expression, biochemistry
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether dietary intervention with blueberry and grape juice extracts in elderly men with subjective memory problems would raise performance on neuropsychological memory tests and change biomarker of muscle damage and whole blood gene expression profiles.
Detailed description
A number of studies have shown that increased dietary intake of fruits and vegetable extracts high in antioxidants (e.g., blueberries, strawberries and spinach) can retard and even reverse age-related decline in brain function and in cognitive and motor performance in rats. This is the first placebo-controlled human study to evaluate the effect of dietary intake of fruit polyphenols on neuropsychological test scores and whole blood gene regulation Sixty-two non-demented, non-depressed men (age 67-77 years) with subjective memory decline, were randomly assigned to a blueberry/grape juice- and placebo-group in a 9 week double blind intervention study. Pre- and post treatment assessment were measured with a computerised neuropsychological test battery (CANTAB), including tests for motor speed, visual reaction time, and spatial memory. Dietary habits were registered before intervention and several clinical biomarkers were measured in plasma/serum before and after the intervention. Pre- and post intervention-samples for measurement of gene regulation were also collected
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTbilberry (European blueberries) and red grape juice
Intervention juice: 50/50 combination of 300 ml bilberry (European blueberries) and red grape juice (Merlot grapes; Vitis Vinifera L.) per day for 9 weeks
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTplacebo juice
Placebo juice: 300 ml, similar to the intervention juice as to taste, energy, salt, and carbohydrates
Sponsors
University of Oslo
Ullevaal University Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
67 Years to 77 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* men * age 67-77 years * gradual subjective memory decline * response to advertisement
Exclusion criteria
* head trauma with loss of consciousness and lasting symptoms * brain stroke within last 3 years * dementia, clinically diagnosed * signs of brain-degenerative disease * Mini Mental Status Examination score less than 26 * depression (MADRS; Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale score above 20) * ongoing treatment for cancer (cytostatica)/diabetes * reported or observed serious mental illness * reported or observed use of narcotics (any, present or past) * reported or observed abuse of alcohol * visual, auditory, or motor handicaps of relevance for performance
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| neuropsychological test scores and whole blood gene regulation | December 2006 - july 2007 |
| whole blood gene regulation; parameters in blood | 2006 and 2007 |
| neuropsychological test scores; whole blood gene regulation; parameters in blood | 2006 and 2007 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| gene expression of stress, repair and maintenance processes measured by whole genome microarray analysis in blood | 2007 and 2009 |
Countries
Norway
Outcome results
None listed