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Increasing Mitochondrial Respiration as a Novel Mechanism for Cognitive Augmentation (MITOCOG)

26 augustus 2026 bijgewerkt door: Francisco Gonzalez-Lima, PhD
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of increasing brain energy on cognition. The hypothesis is that by using a special kind of light, in combination with a nutritional supplement, it may be possible to increase energy production in the brain, which may lead to improvements in cognition.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Nog niet aan het werven

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

The Gonzalez-Lima Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin is recruiting participants for a research study. The study examines whether a combined treatment can improve cognitive function. The treatment includes transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), a form of light therapy applied to the forehead, along with a dietary supplement. The treatment targets an enzyme called cytochrome-c-oxidase, which plays a key role in how the mitochondria inside brain cells use oxygen to produce energy. As people age, this process often becomes less efficient, contributing to cognitive decline seen in normal aging and in neurodegenerative diseases. The hypothesis is that improving mitochondrial function and cytochrome-c-oxidase activity will boost neuronal energy production and reduce oxidative stress, ultimately enhancing cognitive performance. Previous studies from the Gonzalez-Lima Lab found that applying tPBM to the prefrontal cortex improves brain metabolic activity and enhances cognitive functions such as attention, memory, and executive function. The dietary supplement provides an alternative energy source derived from ketones, which mitochondria can use for oxygen metabolism. This may help bypass the impaired glucose metabolism often seen in aging brains, potentially leading to further cognitive improvements. This study will investigate the cognitive effects of this combined treatment in adults ages 18 to 85. During the first visit to the lab, participants will complete informed consent, health questionnaires, and cognitive assessments, and wear sensors on the head which monitor brain activity. They will also be trained to use a headset device which uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to deliver light to the forehead. They will be given daily supplements and instructed on how to maintain a daily log for at-home treatments. Then, for the next two months, participants will complete the daily protocol at home. Weekly check-ins will monitor progress throughout this period. After two months, participants will return to repeat the assessments from the first visit and return their study materials. Participants will receive $200 upon completing the study, and parking expenses will be reimbursed for each visit. Briefly, one aim will be to map the relationship between baseline prefrontal functional connectivity and dimensional performance in cognitive control and affective processing. Another aim will be to evaluate mechanistic efficacy of chronic tPBM in engaging prefrontal circuits and restoring task-based behavioral performance. A final aim is to model the longitudinal relationship between prefrontal circuit health and real-world sleep, circadian stability, and neuroendocrine regulation. By focusing on target-driven biobehavioral mechanisms, this study aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and establish scalable biomarker pipelines.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

180

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Locaties

    • Texas
      • Austin, Texas, Verenigde Staten, 78712
        • The University of Texas at Austin

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen
  • Oudere volwassene

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Ja

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age: 18-85 years old
  • No uncorrected visual, auditory, or motor impairments that would interfere with performing cognitive tasks

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Transcranial photobiomodulation in the last six weeks
  • Diabetes
  • Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant
  • Breastfeeding or plans to breastfeed
  • Major depressive disorder
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Suicidal ideation within the past 6 months
  • Plans for serious medical procedures in the next 3 months
  • Serious hepatic or liver-related conditions
  • History of neurotrauma (e.g., brain lesions or traumatic brain injury)
  • Presently on a ketogenic diet

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Ander
  • Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
  • Interventioneel model: Faculteitstoewijzing
  • Masker: Verviervoudigen

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Actieve vergelijker: Arm 1: active tPBM, active MCT dietary supplementation
Participants in this arm will receive active transcranial photobiomodulation to the forehead, targeting prefrontal cortex, and active dietary supplementation with refined coconut oil to provide ketones.
Infrared light delivered to the forehead, administered with a headset using light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Commercially-available food-grade refined coconut oil for ketogenic dietary supplementation
Sham-vergelijker: Arm 2: sham tPBM, sham dietary supplementation
Participants in this arm will undergo the same procedures as the active group, but with sham photobiomodulation (5% of experimental light emitted by the device) and sham dietary supplementation with sunflower oil (comparable caloric value without ketone production).
Identical procedure as active group, but with 5% of light emitted by the device.
Identical appearance and administration as active dietary supplementation, but with commercially-available food-grade sunflower oil (comparable caloric value without ketone production).

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Cognitive assessment: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Tijdsspanne: The MoCA will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a standard questionnaire which was developed to test for cognitive impairment. The MoCA assesses a variety of cognitive functions including executive function, memory, attention, and verbal fluency. Minimum=0; Maximum=30; low score=more impairment.
The MoCA will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
Cognitive assessment: Trail-Making Test
Tijdsspanne: The TMT will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
The trail-making test (TMT) is a paper-and-pencil "connect-the-dots" task which is used to test visual attention and cognitive flexibility. Completion time (seconds) and number of errors are recorded. Faster time and lower errors=better performance. Maximum time alloted=300 seconds.
The TMT will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
Brain metabolism assessment: Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
Tijdsspanne: The fNIRS procedure will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
Participants wear a device on the head which assesses brain metabolism non-invasively using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The device records changes in the concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex of the brain.
The fNIRS procedure will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Cognitive assessment: 2-Back Task
Tijdsspanne: The 2-back task will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
The 2-back task is a standard computer-based test that assesses attention and short-term memory, in which participants remember a series of letters presented onscreen. Accuracy (number of errors) and speed (reaction time in seconds) are recorded. Faster time and lower errors=better performance. Duration: 5 minutes.
The 2-back task will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
Cognitive assessment: Delayed Match-to-Sample Task (DMS)
Tijdsspanne: The DMS will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
The DMS is a standard computer-based test that assesses visuospatial memory and attention, in which participants remember a grid pattern through a delay and then identify the correct match. Number of correct responses and reaction time in seconds are measured. Faster time and lower errors=better performance. Duration=5 minutes.
The DMS will be administered: 1. Pre-treatment (during Visit 1); 2. Post-treatment (Visit 2, two months later)
Weekly check-in
Tijdsspanne: Once per week during treatment
Open response, verification of compliance of treatment
Once per week during treatment
Follow-up
Tijdsspanne: One month after Visit 2
Open response of any long-term effects of treatment
One month after Visit 2

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Publicaties en nuttige links

De persoon die verantwoordelijk is voor het invoeren van informatie over het onderzoek stelt deze publicaties vrijwillig ter beschikking. Dit kan gaan over alles wat met het onderzoek te maken heeft.

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Geschat)

1 oktober 2026

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 december 2029

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 mei 2030

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

19 augustus 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

26 augustus 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

28 augustus 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

28 augustus 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

26 augustus 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 augustus 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • STUDY00009139

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

JA

Beschrijving IPD-plan

What data will be shared? Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this study, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices). A data dictionary, including a description of the variables and types of data, collected for each individual, will be provided. This data will include anonymized individual participant demographic information and all outcome variables (cognitive task data, spectroscopy data).

IPD-tijdsbestek voor delen

Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication.

IPD-toegangscriteria voor delen

The raw data will be made available by the researchers upon reasonable request by any qualified doctoral researcher (PhD, MD). They will be granted access by contacting the corresponding author/principal investigator (F. Gonzalez-Lima, utcognitivestudy@gmail.com). It will be made available to qualified researchers whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee (Institutional Review Board) identified for the purpose of individual participant data meta-analysis. Proposals may be submitted up to 36 months following article publication. After 36 months, the data will be available in our University's shared network drive, but without investigator support other than deposited metadata.

IPD delen Ondersteunend informatietype

  • LEERPROTOCOOL

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

Deze informatie is zonder wijzigingen rechtstreeks van de website clinicaltrials.gov gehaald. Als u verzoeken heeft om uw onderzoeksgegevens te wijzigen, te verwijderen of bij te werken, neem dan contact op met register@clinicaltrials.gov. Zodra er een wijziging wordt doorgevoerd op clinicaltrials.gov, wordt deze ook automatisch bijgewerkt op onze website .