(P22-040-25) Acute and Chronic Impacts of Dealcoholized Muscadine Wine on Cognition, Memory, Mood, and Anxiety in Adults Over 50 Years of Age – Interim Results From a Pilot Trial

Objectives: This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate whether a single dose or six-week consumption of polyphenol-rich dealcoholized muscadine wine (DMW) impact cognitive performance and mood among healthy adults.

Methods: Fourteen healthy participants, aged 50 to 65, were randomly assigned to consume 300 mL of DMW or placebo daily for six weeks using a crossover design separated by a 3-week washout. Cognitive performance and mood were assessed at baseline, 4 hours after the first dose of beverage consumption, and at the end of each 6-week phase. Attention, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, episodic memory, working memory, and processing speed were assessed using the NIH Toolbox and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Mood was assessed using the NIH Toolbox and Beck's Depression Inventory. Plasma content of cortisol, TNF-α, BDNF, CRP, and LBP were quantified using ELISA kits. Linear mixed models, with participants as a random effect, were used to analyze cognitive and mood outcomes, as well as plasma biomarker levels. Practice effects were assessed by the main effect of the period, while carry-over effects were examined via the period × beverage interaction. Response variables that did not meet normality assumptions were log-transformed before analysis. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results: DMW did not influence cognitive performance, mood, or biomarkers of stress and inflammation compared to placebo. Significant carry-over and practice effects were observed in cognitive assessments that measured verbal learning, working memory, episodic memory, and cognitive flexibility. A declining trend in cognitive performance was observed during the acute afternoon visits compared to morning visits in both DMW and placebo groups. This reduction in verbal learning, processing speed, and episodic memory in the afternoon coincided with lower plasma cortisol concentration, suggesting fatigue may be a primary contributing factor.

Conclusions: One-dose or six-week consumption of DMW did not improve cognition or mood among healthy adults aged 50-65. However, the significant practice and carry-over effect could mask the benefit of DMW in this healthy population.

Funding Sources: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services