AKG and Brain Health in Aging

October 2, 2026 updated by: University of Oklahoma

Alpha-Ketoglutarate: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Improve Neurogliovascular Coupling and Cognitive Aging in Older Adults

This proposal will test the hypothesis that AKG supplementation will improve NGVC responses and cognitive performance in older adults. We will also test the hypothesis that these effects are mediated by a decrease in age-related oxidative stress within NGVU cells.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

These hypotheses will be tested in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 24 weeks of AKG supplementation in community dwelling older adults. Our team has the relevant expertise in clinical trials with older adults, NGVC assessments, and EVs analysis, providing a high degree of confidence for the successful completion of this project within the award time frame.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

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

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

55 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥55 years
  • Adequate hearing and visual acuity to participate in the examinations (with or without aids)
  • Ability to read and write in English
  • Competence to provide informed consent
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment score ≥26
  • Stable medications for ≥3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Vision or hearing impairment that would impair the ability to complete study assessments
  • Active CNS disease including multiple sclerosis, uncontrolled seizures, active brain cancer
  • Cerebrovascular accident other than TIA within 60 days prior to Visit 0
  • Major psychiatric disease, including major depression not currently controlled and alcohol or drug abuse
  • Abnormal kidney function (creatinine >2mg/dL or EGFR <30mL/min) by most recent labs within 6 months prior to Visit 0
  • Elevated liver enzymes (AST and/or ALT above x2 upper limit of normal) by most recent labs within 6 months prior to Visit 0
  • Elevated blood calcium level (above 10.3 mg/dL) by most recent labs within 6 months prior to Visit 0
  • History of kidney stones
  • Any other medical condition which, in the opinion of investigator, would render the patient inappropriate or too unstable to complete the study protocol
  • Current use of AKG or NAD+ supplements

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Calcium AKG

1 g of calcium-bound AKG daily
Dietary supplement: Calcium AKG

Participants will be randomized to receive either oral Calcium AKG at a total daily dose of 1 g or an identically appearing placebo for 24 weeks.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo

Visually identical placebo
Dietary supplement: Oral placebo capsules

identically appearing placebo capsule

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in neurogliovascular coupling using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be performed during the cognitive n-back task. fNIRS approach generates data that represent a relative change in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin measured over the cortical brain tissues. Neurogliovascular coupling will be evaluated as a change in oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin between before and after treatment. Units of measure - beta. Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after treatment.
24 weeks
Change in neurovascular coupling using electroencephalography (EEG)
Time Frame: 24 weeks

EEG signal will be collected to generate spectral data. These data will be used for comparison of EEG activity between before and after treatment. Units of measure - power spectral density. Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after treatment.
24 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Attention
Time Frame: 24 weeks

The allocation of one's limited capacities to deal with an abundance of environmental stimulation will be measured in a combined "Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test".Units of measure - score (from 0 to 10, bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.
24 weeks
Change in Working Memory
Time Frame: 24 weeks

The ability to store information until the amount of information to be stored exceeds one's capacity to hold that information will be measured using the "List Sorting Working Memory Test". Unit of measure - overall score (bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.
24 weeks
Change in Executive Function
Time Frame: 24 weeks

The capacity to plan, organize and monitor the executive of behaviors that are strategically directed in a goal-oriented manner will be measured using the "Dimensional Change Card Sort Test". Units of measure - score (from 0 to 10, bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.
24 weeks
Change in Processing Speed
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test assesses the amount of information that can be processed within a certain unit of time. Items are simple so as to purely measure processing speed. Units of measure - score (from 0 to 130, bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.
24 weeks
Change in Episodic Memory
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Cognitive processes involved in the acquisition, storage and retrieval of new information, will be measured using the "Picture Sequence Memory Test". Unit of measure - overall score (bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.
24 weeks
Body composition
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Weight and body composition using a bioimpedance scale and/or DXA scan. Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after completion of study
24 weeks
Change in Language
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Picture Vocabulary Test measures receptive vocabulary administered in a computer-adaptive test (CAT) format. Respondents select the picture that most closely matches the meaning of the word, before and after treatment. Unit of measure - overall score (bigger number is better). Reported as a %change from baseline.
24 weeks
Self-reported cognitive function
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Self-reported cognitive function will be assessed using the PROMIS Short Form v2.0 Cognitive Function 4a, which measures participants' perceived cognitive abilities and difficulties in daily life.
24 weeks
Change in blood metabolic panel markers
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Complete metabolic panel (General Chemistry 13 Panel and Lipid Panel from Piccolo Xpress). Reported as a %change from baseline, before and after completion of study
24 weeks
Physical activity
Time Frame: 24 weeks

We will assess physical activity and classify it as sedentary, lightly active, active, or very active using the self-administered CHAMPS (Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors) activities questionnaire. Outcome scores will be assessed using the weekly frequency of physical activity and calculated based on the standardized 6-point categorical duration scale, where scores range from a minimum of 0 hours per week (indicating complete inactivity) to an open-ended maximum number of hours. Higher scores indicate a better outcome, representing very active.
24 weeks
Sleep quality
Time Frame: 24 weeks

Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which evaluates variables including "duration of sleep", "sleep disturbance", "sleep latency", "daytime dysfunction due to sleepiness", "sleep efficiency", "overall sleep quality", and "need meds to sleep". All variables will be scored from a minimum score of 0 (better) to a maximum score of 3 (worse) based on the answers in the questionnaire, to obtain a total score ranging from 0 to 21, with the total score ≤ 5 associated with good sleep quality, and > 5 associated with poor sleep quality.
24 weeks
Global Rating of Change (GRC)
Time Frame: at final visit

After 24 weeks of the intervention, participants will complete the Global Rating of Change (GRC) to report whether they perceive any overall change following the study supplement or placebo. The GRC scale quantifies a patient's change in health status over time. We will utilize an 11-point Likert scale from -5 (very much worse) to +5 (very much improved), including 0 (unchanged), as the rating scale. Participants will be asked to rate their change based on one question: (1) "With respect to your cognition (thinking, attention, concentration, memory), how would you describe yourself now compared to the baseline that is starting treatment 24 weeks ago?"
at final visit

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Oklahoma

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Ponce De Leon Health, Inc.

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Andriy Yabluchanskiy, MD, PhD, University of Oklahoma Harold Hamm Health Campus

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 (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 25, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 19927
  • 1R21AG103782 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

unidentified data will be shared via research repositories

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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