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Fatty Acid Modulation of Brain Function in Older Adults

Who can join

Ages 65 to 75 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

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 therapy than metformin.
* Use of nicotine or ingestion of caffeine or alcohol during the study.
* Habitual fat intake \< 25% of kcal or strict vegetarian diet.
* Sleep apnea requiring continuous positive airway pressure at night.
* Lung, cardiac (heart failure or its treatment), liver disease, renal disease, cancer, and any other medical disorder known or thought to cause inflammation or abnormalities of cognition
* Actively training for an athletic event or participating in competitive sports (such as league play or tournaments)
* Intolerance or allergy to any of the food provided in the study.

About the study

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.

What is being tested

• High Oleic Acid Diet (dietary supplement)
• High Palmitic Acid Diet (dietary supplement)

Sponsor: University of Vermont · Participants: 60 · Started: Apr 15, 2024

Contact the study team

• Julie Dumas, Ph.D. · Phone: 1(802)847-2523
• Jenna Makarewicz, B.S. · Phone: 1(802)847-8248

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06192407

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.