MemoryNCT06889961
Effect of Daily Mixed Spice Consumption on Memory Function
A study testing Mixed spices in people with Memory and Cognitive Function, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The aging process entails a multitude of structural and functional alterations within the brain, culminating in a gradual and progressive decline in cognitive function. Recent research has indicated that various spices may hold the key to enhancing brain health and combating the effects of aging on cognitive… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 80 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Memory, Cognitive Function
- What is being tested?
- Mixed spices
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 21 Feb 2025to 21 Feb 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 50 to 80 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants are required to have clinical histories consistent with normal aging or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- Age 50 to 80 years.
- Adequate visual acuity and hearing to allow neuropsychological testing.
- Screening laboratory tests without significant abnormalities that might interfere with the study.
- -
Who cannot join
- Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or any other dementia (e.g. vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal)
- Evidence of other neurological or physical illness that can produce cognitive deterioration. Determination of dementia will be based on the clinical evaluation including assessment of functional abilities, and cognitive screening (using the Mini Mental State Examination
- Evidence of Parkinson's disease as determined by the motor examination (items 18-31) of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [38].
- Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure (BP) > 170 or diastolic BP > 100).
- Consume spices regularly > 5g day
- Allergy or sensitivity to spices. Subjects will be excluded if there is a prior history of such sensitivity. Since these foods are commonly eaten and allergies are rare, subjects should be aware of this sensitivity prior to entering the study. To determine this, a positive history of spices ingestion without incident will be requested. In addition, any subject with a history of allergy or anaphylaxis of any kind will be excluded.
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- Current diagnosis of any major psychiatric disorder according to the DSM-IV TR criteria (APA, 2000).
- Current diagnosis or alcoholism or substance addiction.
- Eating a high fiber/polyphenol diet or taking any medication or dietary supplement which interfere with the absorption of polyphenols.
- Frequently using prebiotics, probiotics, yogurt, and/or any fiber supplements
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
UCLA Center for Human Nutrition
Los Angeles, California, 90024
Hila Zelicha, +1-310-206-8292, uclanutrition@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Effect of Daily Mixed Spice Consumption on Memory in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Age-related Cognitive Decline: A Pilot Study
The aging process entails a multitude of structural and functional alterations within the brain, culminating in a gradual and progressive decline in cognitive function. Recent research has indicated that various spices may hold the key to enhancing brain health and combating the effects of aging on cognitive abilities. The hypothesis is that a mixture of spices, acknowledged for their reported memory protection potential, may yield a more potent beneficial effect on memory function than a single spice. The spice mixture will be used at culinary dose, and therefore side effects are anticipated. In this study, the effects of spice mixture will be evaluated, as well as their anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The proposed pilot study will include 50 adults (ages 50-80), exhibiting typical age-related mild cognitive decline, excluding dementia or major neurocognitive disorders. They will be randomized 1:1 assigned into a daily intake of either 4.00 g spice mixture capsules or 4.00 g maltodextrin capsules over 3 months, and explore the sustainable effect over 3 additional months. The changes in symptoms of cognition, fatigue, and mood symptoms of the spice group vs. placebo group will be compared. The outcome of the investigation of the effects of mixed spice consumption will provide important novel information on dietary recommendation of spice to preserve cognitive function in aging population.
- Conditions
- Memory, Cognitive Function
- Being tested
- Mixed spices, Placebo
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mixed spicesDietary supplement
Mixed spices 4.00 g capsules of spice mixture contain 1.0 g (25%) turmeric, 1.5 g (37.5%) cinnamon, 0.5 g (12.5%) oregano, 0.5 g (12.5%) black pepper, 0.3 g (7.5%) sage and 0.2 (5%) thyme
PlaceboOther
4.00 g maltodextrin capsules
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spices | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Dietary Supplement: Mixed spices |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Memory
Verbal Episodic Memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)-Revised, number of words correctly recalled after the long delay).
Measured: 6 month
Secondary outcomes (15)
Executive Function
These will be measured by Trailmaking part B (time/seconds) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Version IV (WAIS-IV), DVT (Digit Span Backwards). The length of the battery is approximately 15 minutes.
Measured: 6 month
Language, Executive Function, Episodic Memory, Processing Speed, and Working Memory
Language, Executive Function, Episodic Memory, Processing Speed, and Working Memory will also be evaluated by The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) It can be administered via computer, paper and pencil, and most recently, ipad platforms (45 mins). We will analyze, as a secondary outcome measure, the Crystallized Intelligence index.
Measured: 6 month
Fatigue
Fatigue (as assessed by PROMIS-Fatigue Scale, Short Form 8 items): The NIH developed Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). The PROMIS Fatigue scale assess a range of self-reported symptoms, from mild subjective feelings of tiredness to an overwhelming, debilitating, and sustained sense of exhaustion that likely decreases one's ability to execute daily activities and function normally in family or social roles. Fatigue is divided into the experience of fatigue (frequency, duration, and intensity) and the impact of fatigue on physical, mental, and social activities. The fatigue short forms are universal rather than disease-specific and assess fatigue over the past seven days (5 minutes).
Measured: 6 month
Body weight
Body weight: Body weight will be measured at baseline, 6,12, and 24 weeks.
Measured: 6 month
Body composition
Body composition: Body weight and composition analysis will be performed using the Tanita-BC418 body-fat analyzer (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) based on the principles of bioelectrical impedance at baseline, 6,12, and 24 weeks.
Measured: 6 month
Sleep Quality
Sleep Quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: PSQI will be employed to assess sleep quality. The PSQI is a widely recognized self-report questionnaire that evaluates sleep quality over a one-month interval. The PSQI comprises 19 self-rated items and an additional 5 items rated by bed partners or roommates. The self-rated items are used to calculate the total score, which ranges from 0 to 21. Each item on the PSQI is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 reflecting the highest level of dysfunction or disturbance. The scores of these items are then summed to compute a global PSQI score. A global PSQI score greater than 5 suggests significant sleep difficulties. A higher total score is indicative of poorer sleep quality.
Measured: 6 month
24-hour Diet Recall
24-hour Diet Recall: Dietary energy and macronutrient intake will be assessed at baseline, 6,12, and 24 weeks during site visits. For the 24-hr dietary recall we will be using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Recall (ASA24™) tool (https://asa24.nci.nih.gov/).
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Physical Functioning: Measures the ability to perform a range of physical activities without limitations, such as walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Role-Physical: Assesses limitations in work or daily activities due to physical health problems.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Pain: Evaluates the impact of pain on daily activities and the extent of pain experienced.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
General Health: Reflects overall health perceptions, including personal health outlook and resistance to illness.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Vitality: Captures energy levels and fatigue, distinguishing between feeling energetic versus feeling tired or worn out.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Social Functioning: Measures the impact of physical or emotional health on social activities and interactions with others.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Role-Emotional: Assesses the extent to which emotional problems interfere with work or other daily activities.
Measured: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
The SF-36 domain:
Mental Health: Evaluates psychological well-being, including feelings of depression, anxiety, and overall emotional stability.
Measured: 6 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Mar 2025
- Study start21 Feb 2025
- Primary completion21 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion21 Feb 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for MemoryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Zhaoping Li, University of California, Los Angeles
- Investigators
- Zhaoping Li, Principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06889961
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 23-001878
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 24 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Daily Mixed Spice Consumption on Memory in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Age-related Cognitive Decline: A Pilot Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06889961
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 23-001878
- Conditions
- Memory, Cognitive Function
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 21 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Mar 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aging process entails a multitude of structural and functional alterations within the brain, culminating in a gradual and progressive decline in cognitive function. Recent research has indicated that various spices may hold the key to enhancing brain health and combating the effects of aging on cognitive abilities. The hypothesis is that a mixture of spices, acknowledged for their reported memory protection potential, may yield a more potent beneficial effect on memory function than a single spice. The spice mixture will be used at culinary dose, and therefore side effects are anticipated. In this study, the effects of spice mixture will be evaluated, as well as their anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The proposed pilot study will include 50 adults (ages 50-80), exhibiting typical age-related mild cognitive decline, excluding dementia or major neurocognitive disorders. They will be randomized 1:1 assigned into a daily intake of either 4.00 g spice mixture capsules or 4.00 g maltodextrin capsules over 3 months, and explore the sustainable effect over 3 additional months. The changes in symptoms of cognition, fatigue, and mood symptoms of the spice group vs. placebo group will be compared. The outcome of the investigation of the effects of mixed spice consumption will provide important novel information on dietary recommendation of spice to preserve cognitive function in aging population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spices | Active comparator | Dietary Supplement: Mixed spices |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Other: Placebo |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participants are required to have clinical histories consistent with normal aging or mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- Age 50 to 80 years.
- Adequate visual acuity and hearing to allow neuropsychological testing.
- Screening laboratory tests without significant abnormalities that might interfere with the study.
- -
Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease or any other dementia (e.g. vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal)
- Evidence of other neurological or physical illness that can produce cognitive deterioration. Determination of dementia will be based on the clinical evaluation including assessment of functional abilities, and cognitive screening (using the Mini Mental State Examination
- Evidence of Parkinson's disease as determined by the motor examination (items 18-31) of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [38].
- Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure (BP) > 170 or diastolic BP > 100).
- Consume spices regularly > 5g day
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed spicesMixed spices 4.00 g capsules of spice mixture contain 1.0 g (25%) turmeric, 1.5 g (37.5%) cinnamon, 0.5 g (12.5%) oregano, 0.5 g (12.5%) black pepper, 0.3 g (7.5%) sage and 0.2 (5%) thyme | Dietary supplement | Mixed spices |
| Placebo4.00 g maltodextrin capsules | Other | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Memory
Time frame: 6 month
Verbal Episodic Memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)-Revised, number of words correctly recalled after the long delay).
15 secondary outcomes
Executive Function
Time frame: 6 month
Language, Executive Function, Episodic Memory, Processing Speed, and Working Memory
Time frame: 6 month
Fatigue
Time frame: 6 month
Body weight
Time frame: 6 month
Body composition
Time frame: 6 month
Sleep Quality
Time frame: 6 month
24-hour Diet Recall
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Quality of life, SF-36
Time frame: 6 month
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Zhaoping Li principal investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mixed spices in people with Memory and Cognitive Function, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Hila Zelicha, RD PHD (+1-310-206-8292, uclanutrition@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Memory (time frame: 6 month). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jul 2026.