Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA.
Nutr Neurosci. 2022 Jul;25(7):1466-1476. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2020.1868805. Epub 2021 Jan 15.
Age-related cognitive decline is a major public health issue. Almonds are rich in nutrients that benefit cognitive function.
To investigate the impact of almonds on cognition in elderly adults.
In a six-month, single-blinded, randomized-controlled trial, the effects of an almond intervention on cognition in healthy, middle-aged/older adults (50-75 years) was tested. Subjects were assigned to one of three groups: 1.5 oz/d almond ( = 19), 3 oz/d almond ( = 24), or 3.5 oz/d snack (control, matched for macronutrients in 3.0 oz almonds, ( = 17). Serum analyses for tocopherols, oxidative status and inflammation, and cognition were assessed at baseline (M0), three (M3), and six (M6) months.
At M6, serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased by 8% from M0 ( < 0.05) in the 3 oz almond group but did not increase in the other groups. Serum markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were not significantly different throughout the study among the groups. There was no difference in change over time in cognitive tests among the groups. However, there was a significant improvement in visuospatial working memory ( = 0.023), visual memory and learning ( = 0.017), and spatial planning and working memory ( < 0.001) in subjects receiving 3 oz/d almonds at M6, while the snack group showed no improvement.
Almonds did not significantly improve cognitive function in cognitively intact middle-aged/older adults over six months. However, a significant improvement at M6 in cognitive measures was observed with 3 oz/d almonds. While these results are encouraging, a study of longer duration in subjects at risk for age-related cognitive decline is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03093896.
与年龄相关的认知能力下降是一个主要的公共卫生问题。杏仁富含有益于认知功能的营养物质。
研究杏仁对老年人认知能力的影响。
在一项为期六个月、单盲、随机对照试验中，测试了杏仁干预对健康中老年（50-75 岁）成年人认知能力的影响。受试者被分配到三个组之一：每天 1.5 盎司杏仁（=19）、每天 3 盎司杏仁（=24）或每天 3.5 盎司零食（对照，与 3.0 盎司杏仁的宏量营养素相匹配，=17）。在基线（M0）、三个月（M3）和六个月（M6）时，评估血清分析物（生育酚、氧化状态和炎症）和认知功能。
在 M6 时，3 盎司杏仁组血清α-生育酚浓度从 M0 增加了 8%（<0.05），但其他组没有增加。在整个研究过程中，各组之间的血清炎症和氧化应激标志物没有显著差异。在认知测试中，各组之间的时间变化没有差异。然而，在接受 3 盎司/天杏仁的受试者中，在 M6 时，在视空间工作记忆（=0.023）、视觉记忆和学习（=0.017）以及空间规划和工作记忆（<0.001）方面有显著改善，而零食组没有改善。
在认知完整的中老年成年人中，杏仁在六个月内并未显著改善认知功能。然而，在接受 3 盎司/天杏仁的受试者中，在 M6 时观察到认知测量的显著改善。虽然这些结果令人鼓舞，但在有发生与年龄相关的认知能力下降风险的受试者中进行更长时间的研究是必要的。临床试验.gov 标识符：NCT03093896。
