Investigating the Effects of Beef Consumption on Cognitive and Brain Health

Description

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of beef consumption on cognitive and brain health in healthy young adults. Specifically, we seek to evaluate the effects of beef consumption on measures of executive function, memory, psychological well-being, and sleep quality. Additionally, we will explore the effects of increased beef consumption on measures of brain health derived from structural and functional brain imaging. All participants will take part in a 12-week dietary intervention study. Throughout the intervention, participants will receive 5 portions of ready-to-eat beef in frozen packages each week. Each serving of ready-to-eat beef for the experimental group will weigh 5-ounces, while each serving of ready-to-eat beef for the comparison group will weigh 1-ounce. Study compliance will be evaluated through weekly surveys about beef consumption. In addition to completing the dietary intervention, participants will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments: * MRI scan, including structural and functional brain imaging * a comprehensive questionnaire battery evaluating cognitive and psychological measures * neuropsychological tasks * a blood draw

Conditions

Dietary Intervention, Dietary Proteins, Dietary Assessment, Cognitive Ability, General

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of beef consumption on cognitive and brain health in healthy young adults. Specifically, we seek to evaluate the effects of beef consumption on measures of executive function, memory, psychological well-being, and sleep quality. Additionally, we will explore the effects of increased beef consumption on measures of brain health derived from structural and functional brain imaging. All participants will take part in a 12-week dietary intervention study. Throughout the intervention, participants will receive 5 portions of ready-to-eat beef in frozen packages each week. Each serving of ready-to-eat beef for the experimental group will weigh 5-ounces, while each serving of ready-to-eat beef for the comparison group will weigh 1-ounce. Study compliance will be evaluated through weekly surveys about beef consumption. In addition to completing the dietary intervention, participants will complete pre- and post-intervention assessments: * MRI scan, including structural and functional brain imaging * a comprehensive questionnaire battery evaluating cognitive and psychological measures * neuropsychological tasks * a blood draw

Understanding the Cognitive and Brain Health Effects of Increasing Beef Consumption in Young Adults

Investigating the Effects of Beef Consumption on Cognitive and Brain Health

Condition
Dietary Intervention
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68588

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations and availability for the duration of the study
  • * Males and females; Age 19-24
  • * Willingness to adhere to the ready-to-eat beef intervention regimen
  • * Enrolled at University of Nebraska-Lincoln during the 2024 school year
  • * Score between 49 and 64 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index
  • * Consume less than or equal to 1 ounce of beef per day on average prior to participating in the study
  • * BMI between 18.5 and 39.9
  • * Not pregnant or nursing
  • * No history of cognitive or metabolic diseases indicated by diagnosis, including neurodegenerative disease, stroke, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and cancer
  • * No history of eating or anxiety disorders
  • * Low beef consumers, and be willing to adhere to the assigned ready-to-eat beef intervention regimen during the study
  • * Willing to discontinue dietary supplement use throughout the duration of the study, if they are consuming supplement at the time of the registration
  • * No known contraindication to MRI scans as determined by the MRI screening survey questions
  • * Current use of medications that may affect their responses to dietary intervention, such as amphetamines, antidepressants, anti-diabetic medications, laxatives, antibiotics, statins and diuretics.
  • * Known intolerance or allergy to beef
  • * Current use of nicotine products, including vaping
  • * Previous use of nicotine products, including vaping, within the recent 6 months at the time of pre-screening

Ages Eligible for Study

19 Years to 24 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Nebraska Lincoln,

Aron Barbey, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Nebraska Lincoln

Study Record Dates

2026-06-01