Whey protein drink shows promise for sharper minds in seniors

NCT ID NCT02082418

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether a whey protein called alpha-lactalbumin, which is high in the amino acid tryptophan, could improve mood and thinking in healthy older adults with mild memory problems. 59 participants took part. The idea is that this protein might help the brain make more serotonin, a chemical that affects mood and memory. The study measured changes in body protein, muscle strength, and cognitive function after a single protein drink.

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Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

59 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Apr 2014

Finished

Dec 2016

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

55 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion criteria subjects with dementia: * Dementia diagnosis * Ability to walk, sit down and stand up independently * Age 55 years or older * Ability to lie in supine or elevated position for 8 hours * Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol, including: Adhering to fasting state from 10 pm ± 2h onwards the day prior to each study visit Inclusion criteria healthy subjects: * Healthy male or female according to the investigator's or appointed staff's judgment * Ability to walk, sit down and stand up independently * Age 55 years or older * Ability to lie in supine or elevated position for 8 hours * Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol, including: Adhering to fasting state from 10 pm ± 2h onwards the day prior to each study visit Exclusion Criteria: * Any condition that may interfere with the definition 'healthy subject' according to the investigator's judgment (for healthy control group only) * Failure to give informed consent or Investigator's uncertainty about the willingness or ability of the subject to comply with the protocol requirements * Indication of severe cognitive impairment (MOCA score \< 17) * Established diagnosis of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus * History of untreated metabolic disease(s) including hepatic or renal disorder * Presence of acute illness or metabolically unstable chronic illness * Presence of fever within the last 3 days * Preplanned surgery of procedures that would interfere with the conduct of the study * Any other condition according to the PI or study physician that would interfere with proper conduct of the study / safety of the patient * Current alcohol or drug abuse * Known allergy to milk or milk products * Use of long-term oral corticosteroids or short course of oral corticosteroids 4 weeks preceding first test day * Use of protein or amino acid containing nutritional supplements within 5 days of test day * (Possible) pregnancy * BMI of \< 18.5 or ≥ 40 kg/m2 * Dietary or lifestyle characteristics: When during the period from enrollment to completion of the study (end of test day) any condition is developed, whether causing the subject to not meet inclusion criteria or to meet exclusion criteria, the subject will be excluded from the study

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Cognitive Dysfunction dementia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Texas A&M University

    College Station, Texas, 77843, United States

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