Effects of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Community Dwelling Older Adults

November 21, 2016 updated by: Maria O'Sullivan, University of Dublin, Trinity College

D-activating Decline- Exploring the Effects of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Community Dwelling Healthy Older Adults- A Pilot Study

Ireland is predicted to have the highest older adult population growth of any European Union country. A substantial economic and social challenge of this projected growth is the increased incidence of cognitive impairment and the likelihood of progression to dementia. Dementia's, such as Alzheimer's disease, typically have a long prodromal stage with brain changes identifiable from the earliest stages of neuropathology, providing an opportunity for intervention. Switching to a strategy of earlier identification and prevention would significantly reduce prevalence and the associated cost.

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the use of vitamin D supplements in community dwelling older adults as a lifestyle approach that may support cognitive and physical functioning. The research will incorporate several stages including an initial in-depth screening process, a novel and sensitive cognitive battery, 6 month double blind placebo controlled intervention of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) and a concluding participant feedback interview.

These results will be used to assess the feasibility of recruiting and assessing community dwelling older adults for extensive nutrition related cognitive studies.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Dublin, Ireland
        • University of Dublin, Trinity College

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years to 80 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Community Dwelling healthy volunteers
  • Ability to provide written consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Measures low or high serum vitamin D, defined as < 15nmol/L or >125nmol/L
  • Current use of supplemental vitamin D ≥800 international units/d
  • Screen positive for cognitive impairment using the Telephone Cognitive Screen (TCogS)
  • Measured hypercalcaemia, defined as corrected serum calcium > 2.7nmol/l
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Epilepsy
  • Stroke
  • Renal disease
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar affective disorder
  • Recurrent psychotic depression
  • Alcohol and drug abuse within the past 5 years
  • Anti-convulsants
  • Anti-psychotic medications
  • Significant hearing difficulties even when wearing hearing aid
  • Illness that caused permanent decrease in memory or other mental function

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: DOUBLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Intervention
Healthy, Community Dwelling; Aged 60-80 years; Cholecalciferol -Vitamin D3, 4000 international units (IU) on alternating days.
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo
Healthy, Community Dwelling; Aged 60-80 years; Placebo -gel capsule containing no vitamin D on alternating days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Global Cognitive Function
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Global cognitive function will be assessed using the validated Montreal Cognitive Assessment for all participants
26 weeks
Executive Function
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Executive function will be assessed according to the validated Trails Making Task Part A and B
26 weeks
Memory
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Episodic memory will be assessed according to the Wescher Memory Scale
26 weeks
Attention and Visual Reasoning
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Attention and visual memory will be assessed using 2 validated measures: the Sustained Attention to Response Task and the Cambridge Mental Disorders of the Elderly Examination Visual Reasoning Test
26 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Muscle strength
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Muscle strength in the participants will be assessed using a clinical dynamometer to measure grip strength
26 weeks
Physical function
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Physical function will be assessed using the Timed up and Go measure
26 weeks
Systemic inflammation
Time Frame: 26 weeks
Serum will be analysed for levels of specific cytokines
26 weeks
Change in Blood Level of Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D)
Time Frame: 0, 12 and 26 weeks
Serum will be analysed for change in levels from baseline
0, 12 and 26 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Maria O'Sullivan, PhD, The University of Dublin, Trinity College
  • Principal Investigator: Brian Lawlor, MD, The University of Dublin, Trinity College

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2015

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

May 1, 2016

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

November 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 20, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 14, 2016

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

June 17, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

November 22, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 21, 2016

Last Verified

November 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UniDublinTC

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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