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| ID | Type | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 670715-3833 | Other Identifier | Loma Linda University |
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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| University of Barcelona | OTHER |
| California Walnut Commission | OTHER |
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This will be a systematic investigation of the role of walnuts in preventing or slowing age related cognitive decline and age related macular degeneration. 700 subjects will be recruited between 2 sites, Loma Linda University in California, USA and Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, Spain. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the walnut group or the control group for a 2 year intervention. Baseline and annual data will be collected and analyzed.
Epidemiological studies suggest that nutrients such as n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, antioxidants and B-vitamins may protect against age related cognitive decline. Small human studies have shown beneficial effects of polyphenol rich foods on cognition and age related macular degeneration. Walnuts are a rich source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, antioxidants, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds. A 2-year intervention will be conducted with healthy, elderly subjects to investigate the role of walnuts in preventing or slowing age related cognitive decline and age related macular degeneration.
350 subjects, age 63 to 79 years, will be recruited at each of 2 sites, Loma Linda University in California and Hospital Clinic in Barcelona. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: walnut group (habitual diet with 1 or 2 oz/d walnut supplement) or control group (habitual diet only). At baseline and yearly, cardiometabolic risk factors, red blood cell membrane fatty acids, urinary polyphenols and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidation will be measured. Eye exam, blood pressure and cognitive function tests will be measured at the beginning and end of 2 years. At the Barcelona site only, participants will be given a brain MRI and carotid ultrasound.
Descriptive results will be reported as mean plus/minus standard deviation. Primary analysis will be carried out on the basis of groups as randomly assigned. Results will be presented as appropriate effect sizes with a measure of precision (95% CI). Analysis of covariates gender, age, educational status will be conducted.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut group | Active Comparator | This group will have their habitual diet supplemented with 30 to 45g (1 to 1.5 oz) of walnuts daily. |
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| Control group | Active Comparator | This group will eat their habitual diet and refrain from eating walnuts. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnuts | Dietary Supplement | 30 to 60g (1 to 2 oz) per day of walnuts |
| |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Changes from baseline in global cognitive composite score | The composite score will be calculated using the scores from the tests listed below. We will calculate the standardized scores of each test as the score of each participant minus the group mean and divide by its standard deviation. The composite score is the mean of the standardized scores. The 12 tests are: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF), Semantic Fluency (Animals), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Visual Object and Space Perception Battery (VOSP), Block Design section from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Trail Making Test (TMT), FAS Word Fluency, Stroop Color Word Test, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SMDT) Digit Span from the WAIS-III and Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II). | 2 years |
| Changes from baseline in macular degeneration | This will be assessed: by stereoscopic digitized color fundus images graded by International Classification System for Age-Related Maculopathy (score range. 0 to 4; the higher the score, the worse the condition); by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of macular thickness (in µm); by optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of retinal nervous fiber layer thickness (in µm). | 2 years |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline in brain cortical thickness | Changes will be assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a randomly selected subset of participants. Only in Barcelona center. Unit of measure is mm2. | 2 years |
| Change from baseline in voxel-based morphometry |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in carotid Intima-media thickness (mm) | Changes will be assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Only in Barcelona center. | 2 years |
| Incidence of plaque presence in carotid artery (yes/no) | Changes will be assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Only in Barcelona center. |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Joan Sabate, MD, DrPH | Chair, Department of Nutrition | Principal Investigator |
| Emilio Ros, MD, PhD | Director Lipid Clinic, Endocrinology & Nutrition Service | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loma Linda University, Department of Nutrition | Loma Linda | California | 92350 | United States | ||
| Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42373047 | Derived | Soldevila-Domenech N, Ayala-Garcia A, Zhou X, Yi SY, Ros E, Sala-Vila A, Lehtisalo J, Steffen LM, de la Torre R; IAFNS Retrospective Harmonization Expert Working Group; Blackwell CK, Khoo C, Mansolf MA, Ros E, Snetselaar L, Wey T. Diet and Cognitive Function in Aging: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis from Eight Cohorts in Europe and the United States. J Nutr. 2026 Jun 29:101694. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101694. Online ahead of print. | |
| 38081585 |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D008268 | Macular Degeneration |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D012162 | Retinal Degeneration |
| D012164 | Retinal Diseases |
| D005128 | Eye Diseases |
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| habitual diet |
| Other |
Dietary information will be provided |
|
Changes will be assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using GM density maps on a randomly selected subset of participants. Only in Barcelona center. Unit of measure is GM density. |
| 2 years |
| Change from baseline in white matter hyperintensity volumes | Changes will be assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a randomly selected subset of participants. Only in Barcelona center. Unit of measure is mL. | 2 years |
| Change from baseline in perfusion arterial spin labeling | Changes will be assessed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a randomly selected subset of participants. Only in Barcelona center. Unit of measure is ml/100 g/min. | 2 years |
| Changes from baseline in brain activation | Changes will be assessed by Functional MRI (fMRI) on a randomly selected subset of participants. Only in Barcelona center. There are no units of measure. | 2 years |
| 2 years |
| Change in carotid atheroma plaque height (mm) | Changes will be assessed by high-resolution ultrasound. Only in Barcelona center. | 2 years |
| Change in body mass index (kg/m2) | BMI will be calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared | 2 years |
| Change in waist circumference (cm) | Waist circumference will be measured to the nearest 0.5 cm by using an anthropometric tape midway between the lowest rib and at the iliac crest at minimal respiration | 2 years |
| Change in total fat (g) | Changes will be assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Only in Barcelona center. | 2 years |
| Change in Total lean tissue (g) | Changes will be assessed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Only in Barcelona center. | 2 years |
| Change in fasting serum total cholesterol (mg/dL) | Fasting serum total cholesterol will be measured by a standard enzymatic method | 2 years |
| Change in fasting serum LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) | Fasting serum LDL-cholesterol will be estimated by the Friedewald formula | 2 years |
| Change in fasting serum HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) | Fasting serum HDL-cholesterol will be measured by a precipitation technique | 2 years |
| Change in fasting serum triglycerides (mg/dL) | Fasting triglycerides will be measured by a standard enzymatic method | 2 years |
| Change in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (pg/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum soluble-Selectin (ng/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum soluble-intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ng/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum soluble-vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ng/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum amyloid A (ng/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (pg/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum interferon-gamma (pg/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum interleukin-1beta (pg/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum interleukin-6 (pg/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Change in serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (pg/mL) | Assessed by ELISA | 2 years |
| Barcelona |
| 08036 |
| Spain |
| Derived |
| Cofan M, Checa A, Serra-Mir M, Roth I, Valls-Pedret C, Lopez-Illamola A, Domenech M, Rajaram S, Lazaro I, Sabate J, Ros E, Wheelock CE, Sala-Vila A. A Walnut-Enriched Diet for 2 Years Changes the Serum Oxylipin Profile in Healthy Older Persons. J Nutr. 2024 Feb;154(2):395-402. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.12.007. Epub 2023 Dec 9. |
| 37365003 | Derived | Fjell AM, Sorensen O, Wang Y, Amlien IK, Baare WFC, Bartres-Faz D, Boraxbekk CJ, Brandmaier AM, Demuth I, Drevon CA, Ebmeier KP, Ghisletta P, Kievit R, Kuhn S, Madsen KS, Nyberg L, Sole-Padulles C, Vidal-Pineiro D, Wagner G, Watne LO, Walhovd KB. Is Short Sleep Bad for the Brain? Brain Structure and Cognitive Function in Short Sleepers. J Neurosci. 2023 Jul 12;43(28):5241-5250. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2330-22.2023. Epub 2023 Jun 26. |
| 33903255 | Derived | Nyberg L, Magnussen F, Lundquist A, Baare W, Bartres-Faz D, Bertram L, Boraxbekk CJ, Brandmaier AM, Drevon CA, Ebmeier K, Ghisletta P, Henson RN, Junque C, Kievit R, Kleemeyer M, Knights E, Kuhn S, Lindenberger U, Penninx BWJH, Pudas S, Sorensen O, Vaque-Alcazar L, Walhovd KB, Fjell AM. Educational attainment does not influence brain aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 May 4;118(18):e2101644118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2101644118. |
| 33236064 | Derived | Fjell AM, Sorensen O, Amlien IK, Bartres-Faz D, Brandmaier AM, Buchmann N, Demuth I, Drevon CA, Duzel S, Ebmeier KP, Ghisletta P, Idland AV, Kietzmann TC, Kievit RA, Kuhn S, Lindenberger U, Magnussen F, Macia D, Mowinckel AM, Nyberg L, Sexton CE, Sole-Padulles C, Pudas S, Roe JM, Sederevicius D, Suri S, Vidal-Pineiro D, Wagner G, Watne LO, Westerhausen R, Zsoldos E, Walhovd KB. Poor Self-Reported Sleep is Related to Regional Cortical Thinning in Aging but not Memory Decline-Results From the Lifebrain Consortium. Cereb Cortex. 2021 Mar 5;31(4):1953-1969. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa332. |
| 33017652 | Derived | Sorensen O, Brandmaier AM, Macia D, Ebmeier K, Ghisletta P, Kievit RA, Mowinckel AM, Walhovd KB, Westerhausen R, Fjell A. Meta-analysis of generalized additive models in neuroimaging studies. Neuroimage. 2021 Jan 1;224:117416. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117416. Epub 2020 Oct 2. |
| 32827219 | Derived | Hooper L, Martin N, Jimoh OF, Kirk C, Foster E, Abdelhamid AS. Reduction in saturated fat intake for cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Aug 21;8(8):CD011737. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011737.pub3. |
| 32428300 | Derived | Hooper L, Martin N, Jimoh OF, Kirk C, Foster E, Abdelhamid AS. Reduction in saturated fat intake for cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 May 19;5(5):CD011737. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011737.pub2. |
| 31912155 | Derived | Sala-Vila A, Valls-Pedret C, Rajaram S, Coll-Padros N, Cofan M, Serra-Mir M, Perez-Heras AM, Roth I, Freitas-Simoes TM, Domenech M, Calvo C, Lopez-Illamola A, Bitok E, Buxton NK, Huey L, Arechiga A, Oda K, Lee GJ, Corella D, Vaque-Alcazar L, Sala-Llonch R, Bartres-Faz D, Sabate J, Ros E. Effect of a 2-year diet intervention with walnuts on cognitive decline. The Walnuts And Healthy Aging (WAHA) study: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Mar 1;111(3):590-600. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz328. |
| 30962275 | Derived | Bartres-Faz D, Gonzalez-Escamilla G, Vaque-Alcazar L, Abellaneda-Perez K, Valls-Pedret C, Ros E, Grothe MJ. Characterizing the Molecular Architecture of Cortical Regions Associated with High Educational Attainment in Older Individuals. J Neurosci. 2019 Jun 5;39(23):4566-4575. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2370-18.2019. Epub 2019 Apr 8. |
| 30879358 | Derived | Domenech M, Serra-Mir M, Roth I, Freitas-Simoes T, Valls-Pedret C, Cofan M, Lopez A, Sala-Vila A, Calvo C, Rajaram S, Sabate J, Ros E. Effect of a Walnut Diet on Office and 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Elderly Individuals. Hypertension. 2019 May;73(5):1049-1057. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.12766. |
| 29478886 | Derived | Freitas-Simoes TM, Cofan M, Blasco MA, Soberon N, Foronda M, Corella D, Asensio EM, Serra-Mir M, Roth I, Calvo C, Valls-Pedret C, Casaroli-Marano RP, Domenech M, Rajaram S, Sabate J, Ros E, Sala-Vila A. The red blood cell proportion of arachidonic acid relates to shorter leukocyte telomeres in Mediterranean elders: A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Clin Nutr. 2019 Apr;38(2):958-961. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2018.02.011. Epub 2018 Feb 17. |
| 28119602 | Derived | Rajaram S, Valls-Pedret C, Cofan M, Sabate J, Serra-Mir M, Perez-Heras AM, Arechiga A, Casaroli-Marano RP, Alforja S, Sala-Vila A, Domenech M, Roth I, Freitas-Simoes TM, Calvo C, Lopez-Illamola A, Haddad E, Bitok E, Kazzi N, Huey L, Fan J, Ros E. The Walnuts and Healthy Aging Study (WAHA): Protocol for a Nutritional Intervention Trial with Walnuts on Brain Aging. Front Aging Neurosci. 2017 Jan 10;8:333. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00333. eCollection 2016. |
| 27636672 | Derived | Fernandez-Cabello S, Valls-Pedret C, Schurz M, Vidal-Pineiro D, Sala-Llonch R, Bargallo N, Ros E, Bartres-Faz D. White matter hyperintensities and cognitive reserve during a working memory task: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in cognitively normal older adults. Neurobiol Aging. 2016 Dec;48:23-33. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.08.008. Epub 2016 Aug 20. |
| 27535872 | Derived | Vaque-Alcazar L, Sala-Llonch R, Valls-Pedret C, Vidal-Pineiro D, Fernandez-Cabello S, Bargallo N, Ros E, Bartres-Faz D. Differential age-related gray and white matter impact mediates educational influence on elders' cognition. Brain Imaging Behav. 2017 Apr;11(2):318-332. doi: 10.1007/s11682-016-9584-8. |