Do you forget things sometimes?

A Cork research company is looking for adults aged 55-79 that experience mild memory loss to take part in a research study. The purpose of this study by Atlantia Clinical Trials is to evaluate the effects of a food supplement on cognitive performance.

Increasing life expectancy and a growing population have led to a growing number of people living with age-related neurodegenerative diseases. It is understood that nutrients in the diet have a big role to play in combatting age-related cognitive decline. Neurodegenerative disorders can be impeded and even prevented if approaches to preserve and/or restore brain energy metabolism are taken earlier in life.

Some of the earliest signs of cognitive decline are seen in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the symptoms of which can start from late forties onwards. Studies have reported that 10-20% of the population may show signs of MCI in their fifties and sixties.

MCI is characterised by occasional problems with memory, language, thinking, or judgment. For most, this mild cognitive decline manifests in short-term lapses of memory and increased forgetfulness. People with MCI may have difficulty remembering appointments or social engagements, losing their train of thought, or following a thread of conversation.

Over time, these problems may lead to further cognitive decline and the onset of cognitive diseases. For others, symptoms never progress and can even be reversed.

This study is investigating whether the consumption of a functional food ingredient, can improve mental and cognitive health in adults with mild cognitive impairment. It is anticipated that the supplement can address nutrient deficiencies that could improve brain energy metabolism. It could therefore provide a novel nutritional approach to managing brain energy metabolism in middle-aged and older adults.

Over a five month period, successful participants will take the food supplement or placebo product daily for four months, complete several cognitive assessments, and visit Atlantia's clinic in Blackpool five times.

Each participant will receive €550 upon completion of the study in return for their time and any expenses.

If you would like to learn more or participate in the study, you can call Atlantia’s team directly on 021-4307442 or visit atlantiaclinicaltrials.com