Could a Brain-Healthy diet help fight ALS and Parkinson's?

NCT ID NCT07625605

Completed Disease control Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether people with ALS or Parkinson's disease, along with healthy volunteers, could follow the MIND diet — a mix of the Mediterranean and DASH diets thought to protect the brain. Over several weeks, 43 participants received a cookbook, educational materials, and weekly tips. They tracked what they ate and provided stool and blood samples to see how the diet affected their gut bacteria and overall health. The goal was to see if the diet is practical and whether it might improve symptoms or slow disease progression.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: MIND diet (a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets)
What this could lead to: If the MIND diet proves beneficial, it could offer a simple, low-cost way to help manage symptoms and slow progression of ALS and Parkinson's disease.
What could go wrong: This was a small, early feasibility study with no control group, so any benefits seen may not be due to the diet. Dietary changes can be hard to maintain long-term.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Parkinson disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS (ALS) PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Gary E Shealy Memorial ALS Clinic

Elizabethton, Tennessee, 37643, United States
The Cole Center for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders

Knoxville, Tennessee, 37922, United States
University Neurology

Knoxville, Tennessee, 37920, United States

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