Examining gut health, nutrition, and cognitive function in elderly small eaters

Loss of Autonomy in the Elderly: Relationships Between Gut Microbiota Diversity, Nutrition and Cognitive and Sensory-motor Disturbances in "Small Eaters" and "Non Small Eaters"

Observational Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon · NCT05449119

This study looks at how gut health, diet, and brain function are connected in older adults over 75 who eat very little after moving into care facilities.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment140 (estimated)
Ages75 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon Academic / other
Locations1 site (Dijon)
Trial IDNCT05449119 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study investigates the relationships between gut microbiota diversity, nutrition, and cognitive and sensory-motor disturbances in elderly individuals over 75 years old who are classified as 'small eaters' upon their admission to long-term care facilities. The research will involve fecal and blood sampling, along with the collection of nutritional, cognitive, and sensorimotor data, including BMI and muscle mass measurements. The aim is to understand how changes in diet and lifestyle affect gut health and cognitive function in this vulnerable population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are elderly individuals over 75 years old residing in long-term care facilities who exhibit a loss of appetite.

Not a fit: Patients who are not affiliated with national health insurance or have specific gastrointestinal diseases like celiac disease or Crohn's disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved nutritional strategies and interventions that enhance cognitive and sensory-motor functions in elderly individuals.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research into the effects of nutrition and gut microbiota on health in the elderly, this specific approach focusing on 'small eaters' is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Person who has given oral consent and has not objected to being included in the study, or if necessary, oral consent of an appointed legal representative.
* A person over 75 years of age residing in an EHPAD who may be under guardianship or curatorship.
* A person over 75 years of age with a loss of appetite (i.e. a small eater) residing in an EHPAD, who may be under guardianship or curatorship.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Person not affiliated to national health insurance
* Elderly person with an infectious syndrome at the time of admission;
* Elderly person with diarrhoea (infectious or not) at the time of admission;
* Elderly person receiving recently prescribed antimicrobials at the time of admission (antibiotics or antifungals)
* Elderly person with celiac disease and/or Crohn's disease.
* Person under a measure of limited judicial protection

Where this trial is running

Dijon

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Elderly Small Eater
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.