Study on the effects of cocoa flavanols on cognitive function in elderly subjects

Abstract Identifying safe, affordable, and well-tolerated interventions that prevent or delay cognitive decline in older adults is of critical importance. There is growing evidence from basic science and small randomized trials that cocoa flavanols may provide protection against this decline. Funded by the NIA, COSMOS-Mind is an ancillary study of COSMOS and was designed to add cognitive outcomes to the parent study, a 2x2 factorial randomized controlled trial testing the effects of cocoa flavanols (600 mg/d) and a multivitamin with matching placebo on cardiovascular disease and cancer endpoints. A validated telephone-based protocol conducted at baseline and then annually for three years measures attention, memory, language, executive function, and global cognitive functioning in 2,262 women and men, ages 65 and older without insulin-dependent diabetes. Cases of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s and related dementias will be centrally adjudicated. For participants who score below a pre-specified threshold on a test of global cognition, a study partner is interviewed to obtain additional information regarding cognitive and functional status. With >5,000 interviews completed, this presentation will describe the cognitive battery, operational procedures used to ensure high data fidelity, and strategies employed that have maintained retention at >90%. Our experiences in COSMOS-Mind can inform the design and implementation of other large, multi-site RCTs and epidemiological studies. Telephone-based assessments of cognitive function are a cost-efficient method for assessing cognitive function.

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Interaction of atherosclerosis and inflammation in elderly subjects with poor cognitive function

Neurology ◽

10.1212/01.wnl.0000098877.07653.7c ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 61 (12) ◽

pp. 1695-1701 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

E. van Exel ◽

A. J.M. de Craen ◽

E. J. Remarque ◽

J. Gussekloo ◽

P. Houx ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Poor Cognitive Function

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Neuropeptide dietary supplement N-PEP-12 enhances cognitive function and activates brain bioelectrical activity in healthy elderly subjects

Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology ◽

10.1358/mf.2005.27.7.914776 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 27 (7) ◽

pp. 483 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

X.A. Álvarez ◽

L. Corzo ◽

M. Laredo ◽

C. Sampedro ◽

R. Cacabelos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Dietary Supplement ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Bioelectrical Activity ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Healthy Elderly Subjects

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Cognitive Function and Brain Atrophy in Elderly Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Comparison with Non-diabetic Elderly Subjects.

Nippon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi Japanese Journal of Geriatrics ◽

10.3143/geriatrics.38.388 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 388-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nanaka Mogi ◽

Ayako Hattori ◽

Chika Ushida ◽

Hiroyuki Umegaki ◽

Hisayuki Miura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Brain Atrophy ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Type 2 Diabetic Patients ◽

Type 2 Diabetic

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Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease and in the healthy elderly

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291702006906 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 41-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

R. J. PORTER ◽

B. S. LUNN ◽

J. T. O'BRIEN

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Rating Scales ◽

Senile Dementia ◽

Specific Effect ◽

Acute Tryptophan Depletion ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Tryptophan Depletion ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Double Blind ◽

Healthy Elderly

Background. The cholinergic system is profoundly impaired in senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) and replacement therapy produces only modest clinical benefits. The serotonergic system is also impaired and may contribute both to cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in SDAT. To investigate this further we assessed the effects of lowering brain serotonin using the technique of acute tryptophan depletion on cognitive function in patients with SDAT and in age matched control subjects.Method. Sixteen patients with probable SDAT and 17 healthy elderly subjects received two amino acid drinks in a within subject, double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover design. One of the drinks was nutritionally balanced and contained tryptophan (placebo), the other was identical but contained no tryptophan. A battery of detailed neuropsychological tests was performed between 4 and 6 h after the drink. Mood rating scales and other ratings of behavioural and emotional symptoms were also performed on both occasions.Results. Acute tryptophan depletion resulted in impairment on tasks of working memory in both groups. There was no group specific effect. Female SDAT subjects performed better on a task of pattern recognition during acute tryptophan depletion compared with placebo. There were no changes in behavioural symptoms during acute tryptophan depletion in either group.Conclusion. Compromised serotonergic function may be an important contributor to cognitive decline in SDAT and in ageing. Strategies targeting specific 5HT receptors may be helpful in SDAT.

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Twelve-week physical and leisure activity programme improved cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly subjects: a randomized controlled trial

Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1111/psyg.12038 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 47-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Tadahiko Kamegaya ◽

Yumi Araki ◽

Hanami Kigure ◽

Haruyasu Yamaguchi ◽

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Randomized Controlled

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Intermittent Fasting Enhanced the Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment by Inducing Biochemical and Metabolic changes: A 3-Year Progressive Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092644 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2644 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Theng Choon Ooi ◽

Asheila Meramat ◽

Nor Fadilah Rajab ◽

Suzana Shahar ◽

Intan Safinar Ismail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Ketone Bodies ◽

Fasting Blood Glucose ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting (IF) refers to various dietary regimens that cycle between a period of non-fasting and a period of total fasting. This study aimed to determine the effects of IF on cognitive function among elderly individuals who practice IF who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 99 elderly subjects with MCI of Malay ethnicity without any terminal illness were recruited from a larger cohort study, LRGS TUA. The subjects were divided into three groups, comprising those who were regularly practicing IF (r-IF), irregularly practicing IF (i-IF), and non-fasters (n-IF). Upon 36 months of follow-up, more MCI subjects in the r-IF group reverted to successful aging with no cognitive impairment and diseases (24.3%) compared to those in i-IF (14.2%) and n-IF groups (3.7%). The r-IF group’s subjects exhibited significant increment in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduction in body weight, levels of insulin, fasting blood glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and DNA damage. Moreover, metabolomics analysis showed that IF may modulate cognitive function via various metabolite pathways, including the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, butanoate metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways. Overall, the MCI-afflicted older adults who practiced IF regularly had better cognitive scores and reverted to better cognitive function at 36 months follow-up.

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