Omega-3 and Blueberry Supplmentation in Age-Related Cognitive Decline

描述（由申请人提供）：与年龄相关的认知能力下降的老年人在日常功能方面至少有适度的效率低下，并且患痴呆症的风险增加，特别是阿尔茨海默病（AD）。随着老年人口的扩大，人们担心阿尔茨海默病的患病率可能会大大超过先前的预测，即到2050年，受影响的个体将达到1100万至1600万。目前的药物治疗只能提供部分和短暂的症状改善，并在一些个体中产生不良反应。此时，早期干预是减缓或防止认知能力进一步下降的最佳途径。Omega-3脂肪酸缺乏代表了与认知衰老和痴呆相关的神经病理学的合理病理机制，并且Omega-3脂肪酸治疗对许多假定的与年龄相关的衰退机制具有积极作用。此外，过去十年的基础动物研究和最近的人类初步数据表明，蓝莓补充剂具有实质性的神经生物学益处，并有可能改善与年龄相关的认知能力下降。此外，有迹象表明，这些营养保健方法的综合作用可能提供更有效的添加剂，以及针对神经退行性机制的互补益处。我们的长期目标是开发一种营养干预策略，可以有效地应用于老年人经历与年龄相关的衰退。在这项研究中，我们将评估omega-3脂肪酸和蓝莓联合补充对早期记忆变化的老年人记忆功能的改善效果。我们建议进行一项为期6个月的随机、双盲、安慰剂对照试验，包括每天补充这些营养保健品，并在基线后进行长达一年的纵向评估。我们的主要结果将是评估干预后记忆功能和日常功能方面的变化。我们计划利用这项研究的结果来支持未来更全面的研究，研究老年人的作用机制、剂量和作用持续时间。该提案是为了响应NIA关于研究旨在改善老年人认知功能的新型联合非药物干预措施的提案请求而产生的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Older adults with age-related cognitive decline experience at least modest inefficiency in everyday functioning and have increased risk of developing dementia, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the expansion of the elderly population there is concern that the prevalence of AD may increase substantially beyond previous projections that ranged from 11 to 16 million affected individuals by the year 2050. Current pharmaceutical therapies provide only partial and transient symptomatic improvement and produce adverse responses in some individuals. At this time, early intervention represents the optimal approach for slowing or preventing further cognitive decline. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency represents a plausible pathoetiological mechanism for neuropathology associated with cognitive aging and dementia, and omega-3 fatty acid treatment has positive effects on a number of putative mechanisms of age-related decline. In addition, basic animal research during the last decade and very recent human preliminary data indicate that blueberry supplementation produces substantial neurobiological benefit and has the potential to ameliorate age-related cognitive decline. Further, there are indications that the combined effects of these nutraceutical approaches may offer more potent additive as well as complementary benefits aimed specifically at neurodegenerative mechanisms. Our long-term objective is to develop a nutraceutical intervention strategy that can be effective when applied with older adults experiencing age-related decline. In this investigation, we will evaluate the efficacy of combined omega-3 fatty acid and blueberry supplementation in improving memory function in elderly individuals with early memory changes. We propose a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving daily supplementation with these nutraceutical products and longitudinal assessment up to one year after baseline. Our primary outcomes will be assessment of change in aspects of memory function and daily functioning in response to the intervention. We plan to use the findings of this study to support future, more comprehensive research examining mechanisms of action, dosage, and duration of effects in older adults. This proposal was generated in response to the NIA request for proposals to investigate novel, combined non-pharmaceutical interventions designed to improve cognitive function in older adults. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Evidence-based treatments are urgently needed for elderly individuals with or at risk for age-related cognitive decline. As an initial step to establish early intervention and prevention strategies, this application proposes a double-bind placebo-controlled treatment trial to evaluate the neurocognitive benefits of combined omega-3 fatty acid and blueberries in elderly subjects at risk for age-related cognitive decline.