Gut bacteria meets brain health: can a daily probiotic drink sharpen memory in older adults?
NCT ID NCT07818369
First seen Sep 14, 2026 · Last updated Sep 15, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether a daily synbiotic supplement can improve memory and thinking in adults aged 60 to 75 with mild cognitive impairment. The supplement combines Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 bacteria, agave inulin fiber, and almond powder. In this small crossover trial, participants receive either the synbiotic or a plain almond powder drink for 12 weeks, then switch to the other after a two-week break. The study measures changes in cognitive test scores and looks at gut bacteria, short-chain fatty acids, and markers of brain and immune function.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a synbiotic supplement combining Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 probiotic bacteria and agave inulin fiber
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a low-cost, food-based way to support memory and thinking in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study of 20 participants, so any cognitive changes may be modest or due to chance. Supplements can also cause digestive upset, and the trial may not show a clear benefit.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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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
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Dec 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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60 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Adults aged 60 to 75 years. * Presence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) determined by neuropsychological testing, meeting at least two of the following three established cutoff criteria: * Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): 19-26 points. * Memory Alteration Test (M@T): 28-37 points. * Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): 12-24 points. * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent; consent may be provided by a family member or legal representative when necessary. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous diagnosis of severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, or another neurodegenerative disorder affecting cognition. * History of cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular events, traumatic brain injury, or advanced-stage renal disease. * Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. * Diagnosed dysbiosis or inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. * Use of antibiotics, laxatives, probiotics, or prebiotics within the 3 months prior to enrollment. * Habitual consumption of fermented foods or fiber-rich supplements, particularly fiber intake \>18 g/day. * Excessive alcohol consumption, defined as ≥2 alcoholic drinks per day, or history of alcohol dependence. * Chronic use of medications that may interfere with the microbiota-gut-brain axis, including immunosuppressants, antipsychotics, or corticosteroids. * Recent surgery within the previous 3 months or a planned medical intervention during the study period. * Known adverse reaction or hypersensitivity to any component of the synbiotic or to almond powder. * Uncontrolled chronic stress identified by clinical assessment. * Participation in intense physical activity or high-performance sports during the study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Unidad de Especialidades Médicas de la Defensa (UEMD)
RECRUITINGMexico City, Mexico City, 11200, Mexico
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