NCT04210869

Mixed Nuts and Brain Vascular Function

The Long-Term Effects of Mixed Nuts Consumption on Brain Vascular Function in Elderly Men and Women

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 70 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Impaired brain vascular function precedes the development of reduced cognitive performance, while brain insulin-resistance is also associated with cognitive decline. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in nuts, may protect against the development of impaired cognitive performance. The hypothesis is that long-term mixed nut consumption increases brain insulin-sensitivity thereby improving brain vascular function and cognitive performance. The primary objective is to evaluate in elderly men and women the effect of 16-week mixed nut consumption on cerebral blood flow, as quantified by the non-invasive gold standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-perfusion method Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL). Cerebral blood flow is a robust and sensitive physiological marker of brain vascular function. Secondary objectives are to investigate effects on the cerebral blood flow response to intranasal insulin delivery - a marker of insulin-sensitivity in the human brain - as quantified by ASL, and cognitive functioning as assessed with a neuropsychological test battery.

Conditions

• Brain Vascular Function
• Cerebral Blood Flow

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Mixed Nuts	Study volunteers will receive daily 60 g of mixed nuts (15 g walnut, 15 g cashew, 15 g hazelnut, 15 g pistachio) for 16 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-01-01
• Primary completion: 2021-12-31
• Completion: 2021-12-31
• First posted: 2019-12-26
• Last updated: 2022-01-14

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Netherlands