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The Role of Brain Lactate Metabolism in Neuroprotection During Healthy Aging

NCT07731451 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: EARLY_PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2026-07-28

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The brain's primary source of fuel is glucose. Unfortunately, the brain's ability to use glucose declines during normal aging. This decline in brain glucose metabolism makes it vulnerable to cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. The brain can use another fuel source - lactate - which becomes available to the brain during exercise. The investigators have discovered that when lactate fuels the brain, brain glucose metabolism also improves. Essentially, from a metabolic angle, the brain appears younger. Recently, the investigators have shown that lactate - even in the absence of exercise - stimulates this beneficial effect on the brain. The investigators propose to compare the effects of lactate in healthy young and older adults to test whether these beneficial lactate-mediated effects persist throughout the lifespan, thereby providing a blueprint to restore youthful brain glucose metabolism.

Conditions

  • Aging Well
  • Aging

Interventions

BIOLOGICAL

Sodium lactate infusion

Sodium lactate will be infused to target circulating concentrations between 4-6 mmol/L

OTHER

Exercise-induced hyperlactatemia

Cycling will be performed at an intensity to increase circulating lactate to 4-6 mmol/L

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Northern Arizona University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
20 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2027-01-01
Primary Completion
2028-01-01
Completion
2029-01-01

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07731451 on ClinicalTrials.gov