Current Projects

The Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction In Transplantation (FAVORIT) project is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial designed to determine whether treatment with a standard multivitamin augmented with high doses of folic acid, and vitamin B6 and B12, alters the rate of cardiovascular disease outcomes in renal transplant recipients relative to participants receiving a similar multivitamin that contains no folic acid and lower amounts of vitamins B6 and B12.
We continue to analyze the rich dataset of cognitive and brain MRI measures in 1200 homebound elderly in the NAME study as we apply for NIH funds to convert this cross sectionsl study into a longitudinal cohort study to better assess the nutritional/causal relationships. Along with apparent effects of Vit D and n-3 fatty acid nutrient levels, our strongest findings with Vitamins B and homocysteine are supportive of effects on small vessel disease on MRI. We are busy examining a number of genetic varients in the methylation pathway to explore gene-nutrient interractions on brain function.
In our B Vitamin homocysteine lowering FACT study we are seeking to extend our observation period by 3 years to stay current with the 20 center parent study before we analyze the effects of intervention on cognitive decline and cerebrovascular progression.
In the lab we continue to use animal models of B vitamin deficiency with or without ameliorating effects of Choline to assess brain chemistry (especially phospholipid metabolism) behavior and brain microvasculature. Latter assessments include histopath capillary density and newer techniques usingnear infra red spectroscopy to measure oxygen delivery to brain. Experiments with the APP mouse model of Alzheimers will allow us to explore the crossing of nutritional effects on brain chemistry and B Amyloid metabolism.

Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging - Tufts University