# Novel food-based approach for prevention of age-associated cognitive decline inolder adults with obesity

> **NIH NIH R56** · TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON · 2021 · $1,189,438

## Abstract

Older adults with overweight and obesity are vulnerable cognitive decline, and have twice the risk of dementia
and Alzheimer's Disease compared to adults without overweight or obesity. However, research on nutritional
interventions to support cognitive health has been fragmented, and largely restricted to testing individual nutrition
factors or generally healthy dietary patterns. The overarching goal of this proposal, responding to PAR-18-877,
is to identify effective nutrition-based interventions to improve cognitive and brain functioning in older adults with
overweight and obesity. Our central hypothesis is that age-sensitive cognitive functions and cerebral blood flow
(CBF, an important biomarker of brain health) can be significantly increased in older adults with overweight or
obesity by consumption of a novel multiple-component nutrition supplement (MCNS) used alone or in
combination with a behavioral weight loss (WL) intervention. The scientific premise is that older adults with
overweight and obesity have pathophysiological changes in the brain secondary to excess weight that damage
brain structure and function, and as a result are particularly susceptible to nutritional deficiencies and oxidative
stress; thus, optimal nutritional interventions for cognitive health should provide a comprehensive panel of
nutrients and other food constituents to support structural and functional remodeling while reducing inflammation
and oxidative damage. The project is proposed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in all aspects of the
research. The conceptual basis of the work is supported by our recent compelling data demonstrating
effectiveness of a MCNS for improving executive function and cerebral blood flow in young children, which is a
landmark advance because less comprehensive supplement formulations have been found to be ineffective.
 A 1-year randomized placebo-controlled trial will be conducted in 268 older adults with overweight and
obesity, low intakes of target nutrients, and normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment. A 2x2 factorial design
will randomize participants to: i) a MCNS supplement containing flavanols including epicatechin and catechin,
essential micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, or to an isocaloric placebo; and b) to receive a behavioral WL
intervention or an attentional Control. The primary outcome will be change in a composite cognitive z-score of
well-established standardized scores on 5 neuropsychological tests. We hypothesize improved cognitive
function in participants randomized to MCNS, WL and MCNS+WL compared to Controls, with greatest mean
benefits in MCNS+WL participants. The primary analysis is intention-to-treat. Linear mixed-effects models will
be applied to assess the effects of MCNS, WL, and MCNS+WL vs. Control and MCNS+WL vs. MCNS and WL
alone. Additional cognitive tests will be drawn for other reliable sources, and microvascular cerebral blood flow
and macrovascular cerebral blood flow velocity w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10395140
- **Project number:** 1R56AG065236-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS UNIVERSITY BOSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** RONALD A COHEN
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,189,438
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10395140

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10395140, Novel food-based approach for prevention of age-associated cognitive decline inolder adults with obesity (1R56AG065236-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10395140. Licensed CC0.

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