Examining the Impact of Grape Consumption on Brain Metabolism and Neuropsychological Performance in Patients Undergoing Neuroimaging Evaluation for Cognitive Decline: A Double-blinded Placebo Controlled Expansion Study
Sponsor:
Brief Summary:
anticarcinogenic properties. In the past decade, there has been emerging evidence regarding a
potential role for grapes in slowing cognitive decline and other effects of aging.
Furthermore, evidence has been obtained in vivo that supplementation with grape seed extract
in aged rats improves cognitive performance, and that supplementation with grapes in people
having decline in cognition leads to preservation of metabolism in brain regions important to
cognitive function over a period of six months. The investigator aims to measure effects of
grape intake on cerebral metabolism and neuropsychological performance, and to determine
whether initial patterns, and magnitude of change, of cerebral metabolism assessed by
positron emission tomography (PET) can serve respectively as a predictor of, and biomarker
for, the magnitude of cognitive changes resulting from intake of grapes over a period of at
least one year.
Criteria
– Referred to the UCLA NeuroPET Clinics for concern of cognitive decline and/or
behavioral changes.
– Standard history, physical, and laboratory screen performed to identify possible
presence of depression, substance abuse, malnourishment, medical effects and
interactions, cardiopulmonary compromise, electrolyte/calcium imbalance, anemia,
hypoxemia, infection, thyroid dysfunction, renal dysfunction, hepatic dysfunction, or
glucose dysregulation, and appropriate therapies administered (if any).
– Appropriate neurological consultation has been obtained, as well as CT/MRI and/or
neurosurgical consultation if history or neurologic exam reveal findings suspicious
for stroke, tumor, bleed, ictal activity, or hydrocephalus.
Exclusion Criteria:
– Subjects under age 65 and over age 85, in order to enhance the clinical relevance of
the project by focusing on the age groups in whom serious concerns about early signs
and symptoms of senile onset dementia are most typically emerging.
– Have begun cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine in the last 6 months.
– Patient lacks adequate functional status and/or caregiver support to reliably follow
grape consumption regimen.
– Claustrophobia or other condition that would preclude PET from being acquired, or
visual, auditory, language, or motor deficits that would preclude accurate
neuropsychological testing.
– Non-English speaking subjects, due to lack of neuropsychologic testing or equivalent
instruments in non-English languages.
– Subjects with a history of allergy to grapes or grape products.
Locations
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
