Assessing the effect of anthocyanins through diet and supplementation on cognitive function in older adults at risk for dementia: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Kaarin J Anstey,
Steven Roodenrys,
Karen Charlton,
Henry Brodaty,
Marijka J Batterham,
Katherine Kent,
Karina Chan,
Jan Potter,
Xiaotao Jiang,
Vinicius do Rosario,
Elnaz Lorzadeh,
Vida Bliokas,
Lyn Phillipson,
Katrina Weston-Green,
Monique E Francois,
Jenson George
Affiliations
Kaarin J Anstey
UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Steven Roodenrys
School of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Karen Charlton
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Henry Brodaty
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Marijka J Batterham
National Institute for Applied Statistical Research Australia and the Statistical Consulting Centre, School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Katherine Kent
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Karina Chan
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Jan Potter
Division of Aged Care, Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Xiaotao Jiang
Microbiome Research Centre (MRC), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Vinicius do Rosario
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Elnaz Lorzadeh
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Vida Bliokas
School of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Lyn Phillipson
School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Katrina Weston-Green
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Monique E Francois
School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
Jenson George
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction Promising evidence is emerging for the procognitive, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of dietary flavonoids, particularly anthocyanins that provide red, purple and blue plant pigments.Methods and analysis The ‘Food for Thought’ study is a multicentre, 6-month randomised, parallel 3-arm clinical trial. Its primary aim is to investigate whether anthocyanin consumption, either through diet or supplementation, can prevent memory loss progression and improve inflammatory and cardiovascular health in older adults at risk for dementia. Eligible participants will include those aged 60–85 years with a diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment or with a self-referral of memory concerns and scoring ≤13 on the Memory Index Score within the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment screening test. Participants will be randomised to one of three arms: High anthocyanin (‘purple foods’) diet (aiming for a target of 250 mg anthocyanins/day); freeze-dried product derived from blackcurrants (250 mg anthocyanins/day); or control (coloured maltose powder). The primary outcome is auditory anterograde memory functioning assessed by the Buschke and Grober Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test-Immediate Recall. Secondary outcomes are additional cognitive functions including processing speed, working memory, aspects of executive functioning (attentional shifting and word generativity) and premorbid estimate as well as subjective memory problems and self-reported depression symptoms. Additional secondary outcomes are blood pressure, inflammatory biomarkers, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fatty acid profile, apolipoprotein E and polyphenol metabolites, gut microbiota composition and function and vascular and microvascular endothelial function tests. Repeated measures analysis of variance and/or mixed linear modelling will evaluate changes over time, with the inclusion of covariates.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval has been obtained from the Greater Western Human Research Ethics Committee (2021/ETH12083). A Consumer Advisory Group was established to guide and review the protocol and dissemination strategy. The results of this trial are intended to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial sponsor National Health and Medical Research Centre Dementia Collaborative Research Centre.Start date of clinical trial: 02 September 2022.Expected end date: 11 October 2024.Trial registration number ACTRN12622000065796.
