Loma Linda University 350 Seniors For Two-Year Study on Nut's Dietary Impact on Aging

Sure, walnuts are rich with healthy monounsaturated fats, provide an easy omega-3 fatty acid fix, and are tasty to boot. But what we don’t know about walnuts might be a key to healthy aging.

And here’s a chance for 350 Southland seniors to help find out for themselves and for science.

The hearty dish topper has been linked with a number of health benefits, and researchers at Loma Linda University’s Department of Nutrition are conducting an extensive health study on the effect of walnuts and aging. They are looking to local communities for senior participants.

Participants of the twoyear study will eat food at home under normal conditions.

Half of the participants will be assigned to a diet that will include a serving of walnuts, and the other half of the participants will not include walnuts in their diet.

Healthy effects Loma Linda University’s Dr. Joan Sabaté has spent more than 20 years

researching the health effects of walnuts, and is the principal investigator leading the Walnuts and Healthy Aging study.

While smaller studies have shown walnuts have beneficial effects on cognition and possible protection from macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, Dr. Sabaté’s research is attempting to truly crack the miracle nut.

This will be one of the first large-scale studies to test the role walnuts can play in healthy aging, particularly with regard to cognition, eye health, inflammation, risk factors for heart disease and nutritional status.

The study is being conducted at two sites: Loma Linda University and University Hospital Clinic Barcelona in Spain. Each site is recruiting 350 subjects – 700 in total – to make a two-year commitment to participate in the study.

Over the course of the two-year study, participants will receive health exams valued at $2,000.

Betty Crocker is a professor at Mt. San Antonio College and a doctoral student at Loma Linda who is involved with the study. She said it’s a great opportunity for those who can participate.

“It’s rare to make a bit of scientific history,” said Crocker. “I believe we will discover important evidence and clues to good health from this research.”

Those interested in applying for the study must be between the ages of 65 and 75 years old, in reasonably good health, able to read and write in English, and be able to travel to the university every two months.

Two-year study The study will begin with an initial memory test and eye exam. Blood work will also be performed to test general health parameters.

From that point on, participants will return to Loma Linda University every two months to be weighed, be measured and meet with a study dietitian.

Walnuts will be provided at these visits to participants from the group who are allowed to eat the nuts. At the conclusion of the first year, blood will be drawn again, and at the twoyear mark, the study will conclude with more blood work, memory tests and an eye exam.

Recruitment for the study will continue through 2013 until all the participant slots are filled.

Those interested can visit http://lomalindahealth.org/medicalcenter/for-patients-andvisitors/waha-study.

How to apply Online Visit http://lomalindahealth.org/medical-center/for-patients-and-visitors/waha-study and click the “Interest Form” tab on the left of the page. You can also email WAHA@llu.edu.

Over the phone Call 877-LLUMC4U (877-558-6248) or contact the Department of Nutrition regarding at 909-558- 4300, ext. 47170.

Requirements

To be eligible to participate in the study you must be:

• Between the ages of 65 and 75 years old • Reasonably healthy • Able to read and write English • Able to come to Loma Linda University every two months

You must not:

• Be extremely obese • Have uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension • Be in the first year of tragic loss • Be allergic to walnuts