Effect of Daily Mixed Spice Consumption on Memory Function

Verbal Episodic Memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)-Revised, number of words correctly recalled after the long delay).

These will be measured by Trailmaking part B (time/seconds) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Version IV (WAIS-IV), DVT (Digit Span Backwards). The length of the battery is approximately 15 minutes.

Language, Executive Function, Episodic Memory, Processing Speed, and Working Memory will also be evaluated by The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) It can be administered via computer, paper and pencil, and most recently, ipad platforms (45 mins). We will analyze, as a secondary outcome measure, the Crystallized Intelligence index.

Fatigue (as assessed by PROMIS-Fatigue Scale, Short Form 8 items): The NIH developed Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®). The PROMIS Fatigue scale assess a range of self-reported symptoms, from mild subjective feelings of tiredness to an overwhelming, debilitating, and sustained sense of exhaustion that likely decreases one's ability to execute daily activities and function normally in family or social roles. Fatigue is divided into the experience of fatigue (frequency, duration, and intensity) and the impact of fatigue on physical, mental, and social activities. The fatigue short forms are universal rather than disease-specific and assess fatigue over the past seven days (5 minutes).

Body weight: Body weight will be measured at baseline, 6,12, and 24 weeks.

Body composition: Body weight and composition analysis will be performed using the Tanita-BC418 body-fat analyzer (Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan) based on the principles of bioelectrical impedance at baseline, 6,12, and 24 weeks.

Sleep Quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: PSQI will be employed to assess sleep quality. The PSQI is a widely recognized self-report questionnaire that evaluates sleep quality over a one-month interval. The PSQI comprises 19 self-rated items and an additional 5 items rated by bed partners or roommates. The self-rated items are used to calculate the total score, which ranges from 0 to 21. Each item on the PSQI is scored on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 reflecting the highest level of dysfunction or disturbance. The scores of these items are then summed to compute a global PSQI score. A global PSQI score greater than 5 suggests significant sleep difficulties. A higher total score is indicative of poorer sleep quality.

24-hour Diet Recall: Dietary energy and macronutrient intake will be assessed at baseline, 6,12, and 24 weeks during site visits. For the 24-hr dietary recall we will be using the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Recall (ASA24™) tool (https://asa24.nci.nih.gov/).

The SF-36 domain:

Physical Functioning: Measures the ability to perform a range of physical activities without limitations, such as walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries.

The SF-36 domain:

Role-Physical: Assesses limitations in work or daily activities due to physical health problems.

The SF-36 domain:

Pain: Evaluates the impact of pain on daily activities and the extent of pain experienced.

The SF-36 domain:

General Health: Reflects overall health perceptions, including personal health outlook and resistance to illness.

The SF-36 domain:

Vitality: Captures energy levels and fatigue, distinguishing between feeling energetic versus feeling tired or worn out.

The SF-36 domain:

Social Functioning: Measures the impact of physical or emotional health on social activities and interactions with others.

The SF-36 domain:

Role-Emotional: Assesses the extent to which emotional problems interfere with work or other daily activities.

The SF-36 domain:

Mental Health: Evaluates psychological well-being, including feelings of depression, anxiety, and overall emotional stability.

Blood anti-oxidation capacity will be measured using Oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays.

Plasma inflammatory panel will be measured using the Luminex MagPix® analyzer (Luminex, Austin TX)

Fecal microbiome will be analyzed at UCLA microbiome core

Mitochondrial function as well as aging markers will be evaluated using blood samples at the UCLA Mitochondrial Metabolism core and Center for Human Nutrition Analytical Laboratory.