Wild blueberry intake and brain function in older adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls overweight older adults (60–75 years) who will consume a controlled wild blueberry powder regimen for a longer-term intervention period. Primary outcomes focus on regional brain vascular function and brain insulin-sensitivity using cerebral blood flow measurements and related imaging techniques. Cognitive performance is measured as a secondary outcome using the CANTAB neuropsychological test battery. Participants are screened for metabolic and cardiovascular criteria and excluded for factors that would affect imaging or outcomes, such as berry allergy, diabetes, recent smoking, or left-handedness.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women, aged between 60-75 years
* BMI between 25-35 kg/m2 (overweight or obese)
* Fasting plasma glucose \< 7.0 mmol/L
* Fasting serum total cholesterol \< 8.0 mmol/L
* Fasting serum triacylglycerol \< 4.5 mmol/L
* Systolic blood pressure \< 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure \< 100 mmHg
* Stable body weight (weight gain or loss \< 3 kg in the past three months)
* Willingness to give up being a blood donor from 8 weeks before the start of the study, during the study and for 4 weeks after completion of the study.
* No difficult venipuncture as evidences during the screening visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Allergy or intolerance to berries
* Left-handedness
* Current smoker, or smoking cessation \< 12 months
* Diabetic patients
* Familial hypercholesterolemia
* Abuse of drugs
* More than 3 alcoholic consumptions per day
* Use of products or dietary supplements known to interfere with the main outcomes as judged by the principal investigators
* Use medication to treat blood pressure, lipid, or glucose metabolism
* Use of an investigational product within another biomedical intervention trial within the previous 1-month
* Severe medical conditions that might interfere with the study, such as epilepsy, asthma, kidney failure or renal insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, auto inflammatory diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis.
* Active cardiovascular disease like congestive heart failure or cardiovascular event, such as an acute myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident.
* Contra-indications for MRI imaging (e.g., pacemaker, surgical clips/material in body, metal splinter in eye, claustrophobia)

Where it's running

• Maastricht University, Departement of Nutrition and Movement Sciences
  Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Peter P.J. Joris, PhD
• Email: p.joris@maastrichtuniversity.nl
• Phone: 0031883887250

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.