← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting NCT07546409

NCT07546409 Effects of Exogenous Ketones on Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Prediabetes?

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT07546409
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor University of Alabama at Birmingham
Condition Prediabetes
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 20 participants
Start Date 2025-05-20
Primary Completion 2027-05-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 60 Years
Max Age 75 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Ketone Monoester (KE)Placebo

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 20 participants in total. It began in 2025-05-20 with a primary completion date of 2027-05-31.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Brief Summary The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether older adults with prediabetes, but no diagnosed cognitive impairment, show early changes in brain energy use and thinking speed compared to older adults with normal blood sugar levels. The study will also test whether a single dose of an exogenous ketone supplement can improve brain energy use and cognitive processing speed. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do older adults with prediabetes have lower brain glucose uptake and slower cognitive processing speed compared to those with normal glucose levels? Does a single dose of an exogenous ketone monoester supplement improve cognitive processing speed and brain glucose uptake? Researchers will compare older adults with prediabetes to older adults with normal glucose levels to determine whether differences exist in brain glucose metabolism and cognitive performance. In a subset of participants, researchers will also compare brain and cognitive outcomes before and after consuming a ketone monoester supplement (DeltaG, Oxford, England). Participants will: Complete metabolic testing to determine glucose status Undergo brain imaging using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with magnetic resonance imaging (18FDG-PET/MRI) while performing a cognitive processing speed task Consume a single dose of a commercially available ketone monoester supplement during one study visit Complete cognitive testing during imaging to measure processing speed and brain activity The results of this study will help determine whether early metabolic dysfunction is linked to reduced brain energy use and whether ketones can temporarily support brain function in individuals at risk for dementia.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 60 to 75 years * Able to provide written informed consent * Fluent in English * No diagnosed cognitive impairment or dementia Classified as either: * Prediabetes (based on American Diabetes Association criteria), or Normal glucose regulation (control group) * Medically stable and cleared to undergo positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging * Willing to comply with study procedures, including metabolic testing, supplement ingestion, and neuroimaging Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or other neurodegenerative disorder * Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes * Use of glucose-lowering medications (e.g., insulin, metformin, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) * History of major neurological disorder (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness \>30 minutes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis) * Major psychiatric disorder not stable on treatment * Uncontrolled hypertension or significant cardiovascular disease * Severe renal, hepatic, or gastrointestinal disease that may affect supplement metabolism * Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (e.g., non-compatible implanted devices, severe claustrophobia)

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Katherine Sweatt, PhD

✉ sksweatt@uab.edu

📞 205-975-5398

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT07546409 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 60 Years or older, up to 75 Years, studying Prediabetes. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT07546409 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT07546409 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at sksweatt@uab.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT07546409 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Birmingham, United States, Birmingham, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT07546409 clinical trial?

NCT07546409 is sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. The trial plans to enroll 20 participants.

Related Trials

Related Intelligence Guides

In-depth guides covering this condition's trials, eligibility, and what to expect.

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology