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Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent Cognitive Deficits in Subjects With Depressive Symptoms: From Mechanisms to Clinical Practice
NCT07009223 · IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli
In plain English
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Official title
Lifestyle Interventions to Prevent cOgnitive Deficits in Subjects With Depressive Symptoms: From mEchanisms to Clinical pRactice
About this study
The goal of this clinical study is to investigate if lifestyle changes can help prevent cognitive decline and reduce depressive symptoms in people between the ages of 50 and 80 with depressive symptoms or a diagnosis of major depression, but without signs of cognitive decline.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does regular physical activity improve mood and memory in people who are depressed or have depressive symptoms?
* Does cognitive training help prevent mental difficulties in people at risk of cognitive decline?
* Do changes in diet and lifestyle alter the composition of the gut microbiota and immuno-related infiammatory factors?
Researchers will compare three different treatment groups to see which intervention is most effective in improving mental and cognitive health.
The participants:
* Will take part to online sessions on healthy eating based on the Mediterranean diet
* Some will do regular exercise, supervised by a personal trainer
* Others will do weekly cognitive training in small groups at the hospital
* They will provide blood and fecal samples and complete cognitive tests and clinical questionnaires at the beginning, at the end of the treatment (12 weeks), and after 3 months.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged between 50 and 80 years;
* Diagnosis of DDM according to DSM-5 or depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 or GDS-15 ≥ 5, the choice of test will be justified by the participant's age);
* Ability to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Active gastrointestinal disorders;
* Autoimmune disorders;
* Chronic inflammatory disorders;
* Diagnosis of dementia; cognitive impairment or mild functional impairment.
* Use of antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs in the 8 weeks prior to the screening visit.
Study design
Enrollment target: 120 participants
Allocation: randomized
Masking: double
Age groups: adult, older_adult
Timeline
Starts: 2025-10-01
Estimated completion: 2028-03
Last updated: 2026-02-11
Interventions
Behavioral: Mediterranean DietBehavioral: Physical ActivityBehavioral: Cognitive Training
Primary outcomes
- • MADR Scale for Depression (Baseline, Week 12, and 3-month follow-up (Week 24))
- • PHQ-9 (Baseline, Week 12, and 3-month follow-up (Week 24))
- • GDS-15 (Baseline, Week 12, and 3-month follow-up (Week 24))
Sponsor
IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli · other
With: Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Milan, China Medical University, China, University College Cork, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement
Contacts & investigators
ContactElisa Mombelli · contact · emombelli@fatebenefratelli.eu · (+39) 030 35 01 598
ContactMoira Marizzoni, PhD · contact · mmarizzoni@fatebenefratelli.eu · (+39) 030 35 01 563
All locations (1)
IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio FatebenefratelliRecruiting
Brescia, Italy