Beverages for Cognitive Function

Overseen By Madeline Comeau, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Lactating, Special diet, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to explore how drinking milk or juice affects thinking and memory by examining the link between blood sugar levels and cognitive function. Participants will consume either milk (Beverage One) or a fruit drink (Beverage Two) and then complete a cognitive test on paper. It suits individuals who are generally healthy, have no food allergies, and are not following any special diet. As an unphased trial, this study provides an opportunity to contribute to scientific understanding without the constraints of traditional clinical trial phases.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that milk is generally safe for most people. Studies have found that drinking milk can improve thinking skills and support brain health, especially in older adults. Some research suggests that milk without the protein A1 β-casein might enhance brain function even more. Overall, milk is well-tolerated, and no major safety concerns have been reported.

Studies have also examined the safety of juice. Drinking 100% fruit juice is linked to brain benefits and is usually considered safe. Research indicates it can boost brain function and improve health in other ways. No major safety issues have been reported with drinking juice in moderation.

Both milk and juice are common in many diets and are generally safe for most people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the trial involving milk and juice because these everyday beverages might offer a simple, accessible way to boost cognitive function. Unlike traditional methods, which may rely on supplements or medications, this approach explores how common drinks can impact brain performance. The idea is that by consuming milk or a fruit drink, participants might show changes in cognitive abilities during assessments. This trial could potentially reveal an easy and natural method to enhance mental performance using ingredients found in most households.

What evidence suggests that this trial's beverages could be effective for cognitive function?

This trial will compare the effects of two beverages on cognitive function. Participants in one arm will consume milk, while those in another will consume fruit juice, before completing a cognitive assessment.

Research has shown mixed results regarding milk's impact on brain function. Some studies suggest that regular milk consumption might increase the risk of memory problems, while others find no significant effect. There is no clear evidence that milk consistently helps or harms thinking abilities.

In contrast, studies on fruit juice appear more promising. Many studies report that drinking fruit and vegetable juices may support better brain function. Some research found significant benefits for memory and attention with juice consumption. Although not every study agrees, a trend suggests that juice might benefit brain health. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Julie Hess, PhD

Principal Investigator

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 who don't have chronic diseases, food allergies, or intolerances. Participants should not be pregnant, breastfeeding, on a special diet, or planning to start one.

Inclusion Criteria

Healthy weight to overweight (BMI 18.5-29.9 kg/m2)

No food allergies or food intolerances

Non-pregnant and non-lactating

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or lactating

My BMI is 30 or higher.

Currently dieting or planning to follow a special diet

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants consume a beverage and complete a cognitive assessment

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Beverage One (Milk)
• Beverage Two (Juice)

Trial Overview

The study explores how drinking two different beverages—milk and juice—affects blood sugar levels and cognitive functions like memory and attention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Beverage Two (Juice) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will consume a fruit drink prior to completing a novel cognitive assessment on paper.

Group II: Beverage One (Milk) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will consume milk prior to completing a novel cognitive assessment on paper.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

USDA Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

60

Recruited

5,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A systematic review of 1 randomized controlled trial and 7 cohort studies found insufficient evidence to support a clear link between milk or dairy intake and cognitive decline or disorders in adults, indicating that more rigorous research is needed.

The only notable finding was from a small RCT (n=38) suggesting a marginal improvement in spatial working memory for those on a high dairy diet, but overall, the studies showed large variability and methodological issues, leading to an insufficient strength of evidence regarding dairy's impact on cognitive health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of milk and dairy intake in cognitive function in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lee, J., Fu, Z., Chung, M., et al.[2023]

In a study of 44 nondiabetic adults, those with higher fasting glucose levels showed improved attention after consuming water compared to juice shortly after ingestion, but performed better after juice at a later time point, indicating that the timing of beverage consumption affects cognitive performance.

Participants who experienced a greater increase in plasma glucose after consuming juice demonstrated better processing speed after milk compared to water at 30 minutes, suggesting that the glycemic response plays a role in cognitive function following different beverages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Varying roles of glucoregulatory function measures in postprandial cognition following milk consumption. Anderson, JR., Maki, KC., Palacios, OM., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 84 children aged 8-12, those with higher fasting glucose levels showed improved cognitive performance, particularly in speed, after consuming 1% milk compared to apple juice.

The results indicated that milk may enhance cognitive speed in females, while juice could be more beneficial for accuracy, highlighting the influence of sex and glucoregulation on post-meal cognitive function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Biological sex and glucoregulation modulate postprandial cognition following dairy milk and fruit juice in healthy school-age children. Anderson, JR., Gunstad, J., Updegraff, J., et al.[2021]

A study involving 5,138 children aged 6-12 found that higher dairy intake is associated with better executive function performance, particularly in tasks related to shifting and initiating actions.

Among different types of dairy, only milk intake showed a significant positive relationship with executive function, while yogurt did not demonstrate the same effect.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association Between Dairy Intake and Executive Function in Chinese Children Aged 6-12 Years. Zeng, X., Cai, L., Gui, Z., et al.[2022]

In a study of 1,183 adults aged 39 to 65, low fat dairy consumption, particularly low fat yogurt and cheese, was linked to improved memory recall and social functioning, suggesting potential cognitive benefits.

Conversely, whole fat dairy products were associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety, and cognitive failures, indicating that the type of dairy consumed may significantly impact psychological well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dairy intake and cognitive health in middle-aged South Australians. Crichton, GE., Murphy, KJ., Bryan, J.[2015]

In a study of 13,751 participants over 20 years, consuming more than 1 glass of milk per day was linked to a greater decline in cognitive function, suggesting potential negative effects of high milk intake on brain health.

The study found that those who drank more milk experienced an additional 10% decline in cognitive scores compared to those who rarely consumed milk, indicating a need for further research on milk's impact on cognitive health across different populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Milk Intake at Midlife and Cognitive Decline over 20 Years. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Petruski-Ivleva, N., Kucharska-Newton, A., Palta, P., et al.[2022]

In a study of 86 young adults, the cognitive effects of consuming milk versus juice or water were influenced by participants' fasting glucose levels, suggesting that baseline glucoregulatory function plays a significant role in post-meal cognition.

Participants with higher fasting glucose levels performed better on cognitive tasks after consuming milk compared to water, while those with lower fasting glucose levels showed improved performance after consuming juice, indicating that the type of beverage consumed can affect cognitive function based on individual metabolic status.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Baseline glucoregulatory function moderates the effect of dairy milk and fruit juice on postprandial cognition in healthy young adults. Anderson, JR., Hawkins, MAW., Updegraff, J., et al.[2018]

In a study of 892 Chinese middle-aged and elderly participants, the consumption of beverages like green tea, coffee, and pure milk was found to protect against cognitive impairment, while low daily water intake (especially less than 500 mL) increased the risk of cognitive decline.

The study also revealed that among participants with amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition, higher consumption of pure milk and green tea was linked to lower levels of p-Tau-181, suggesting a potential mechanism for how these beverages may help maintain cognitive function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Relationship between Beverages Consumption and Cognitive Impairment in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Population. Jiang, X., Cui, L., Huang, L., et al.[2023]

Citations

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sciencedirect.com

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Milk free of A1 β-casein supports superior gains in cognition and quality of life, relative to conventional milk, in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

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Can Milk Boost Cognition?

The KU Medical Center research team found that adults aged 60-89 who drink three cups of dairy milk a day can boost their brains' levels of glutathione (GSH).