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Find more clinical trials

Delivery of Essential Fatty Acids to the Brain

Start: July 1, 2018
End: May 2025
Enrollment: 160

What Is This Study About?

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in cell membranes throughout the body, particularly in the brain, and helps to transmit messages between nerves. This study will explore whether DHA supplements can increase the amounts of DHA in the brain. In addition, the study will explore if carrying the APOE 4 allele, the strongest genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease, affects the levels or absorption of DHA in the brain. Participants will be randomly assigned to take a supplement of DHA or placebo once a day for two years. After six months, researchers will measure the amount of DHA in participants spinal fluid. After two years, participants will complete cognition tests and receive an MRI brain scan to help researchers assess the effect of DHA supplementation on changes in brain structure and function.

Do I Qualify To Participate in This Study?

Minimum Age: 60 Years

Maximum Age: 80 Years

Must have:

  • At least one dementia risk factor (obesity, limited education, hypertension, hyperlipidemia)
  • Mini-Mental State Examination of 25 or greater
  • Logical Memory II delayed recall score of 6 to 18

Must NOT have:

  • Diagnosis of dementia
  • Use of omega-3 preparations in the past 3 months
  • More than 200 mg/day of DHA consumption
  • Use of donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and/or memantine
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Undergoing active cancer treatment or having a serious disease such as HIV
  • Participation in a clinical trial in the past 30 days
  • Use of anticoagulants such as Plavix or Coumadin or newer generation blood thinners

If I Qualify, Who Do I Contact?

Contact study personnel listed either under the general study contact or the location nearest you.

Need Help?

Contact NIA’s Alzheimer’s and related Dementias Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center at 800-438-4380 or email ADEAR.

Where Is This Study Located?

Who Sponsors This Study?

Lead: University of Southern California

Collaborator Sponsor

  • Huntington Medical Research Institutes

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03613844

alzheimers.gov

An official website of the U.S. government, managed by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health