Fatty Acid Modulation of Brain Function in Older Adults
University of Vermont
Summary
In this crossover study, the investigtors will administer two experimental diets in a random order for one week, and each experimental diet will be preceded by a one-week, low fat control diet for a total four-week study period. The goal is to study how the fatty acid content of the diet affects brain functioning in healthy adults aged 65-75 years. One experimental diet will have a high palmitic acid (PA)/oleic acid (OA) ratio (HPA), typical of the North American diet. The other experimental diet will have a low PA/OA ratio (HOA), typical of the Mediterranean Diet. All allowed food and drink (except water) will be provided by the investigative team, and compliance will be enhanced by constant, intense dietary surveillance by a registered dietitian.
Description
This study will examine how manipulating dietary fatty acids affects brain functioning in older adults. Prior studies have shown that there are behavioral changes that can be made to improve cognition in adults on an acute time scale including improving sleep and physical activity. Based on preclinical data and prior studies in humans the investigators propose that brain functioning also can be acutely improved with a reduction in dietary saturated fat. This approach will first be used in cognitively normal older adults without dementia, but in the future it may be that improving baseline cogn…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65–75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women age range 65-75 years * Normal cognition (see Research Strategy for details on cognitive assessments) * "Healthy" (body mass index (BMI) of 20-40 kg/m2) Exclusion Criteria: * Significant cognitive or behavioral impairment (see Research Strategy for testing and exclusions) or pharmacological treatment for this (e.g. antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and sedative medications). * Hormone replacement therapy, past 3 months. * Hyper-androgenic condition. * HbA1C≥7.5% and or Fasting plasma glucose concentration ≥130 mg/dL. * Type 2 Diabetes if receiving any other th…
Interventions
- Dietary SupplementHigh Oleic Acid Diet
Subjects are provided with all food for each meal every day. The food is low in fat. In addition, subjects are provided with an oil mix that is 100% hazelnut oil. They will be taught to consume the oil with each meal and mix it in with the food provided.
- Dietary SupplementHigh Palmitic Acid Diet
Subjects are provided with all food for each meal every day. The food is low in fat. In addition, subjects are provided with an oil mix that is palm oil-89%, peanut oil-6.75%, and virgin olive oil-4.25%; . They will be taught to consume the oil with each meal and mix it in with the food provided.
Location
- University of VermontBurlington, Vermont