×ö°®ÊÓƵ’s department of nutrition, dietetics, and exercise science is studying how weight-loss medication use and lifestyle habits may influence cognitive function.
Led by Dr. Betsy Cogan, a registered dietitian nutritionist, the study seeks volunteers aged 55–70 who are either currently taking anti-obesity medications — such as semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, or exenatide — or are overweight or have obesity. *Participants will not be receiving any medications.*
This cross-sectional research aims to shed light on the growing use of GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medications and their possible cognitive benefits in aging adults.
“It is clear that these types of medications produce meaningful weight loss and have several other health benefits that are now being shown in the literature,” Cogan said. “However, it remains unclear if such benefits extend to cognitive health.”
Participation in the study includes two visits totaling approximately 2.5 hours. During the first visit (about two hours), participants will undergo body measurements, a blood draw, and cognitive assessments. During the following week, they will wear an activity-tracking accelerometer and complete a food and drink log over three days. A second visit (under 30 minutes) will be scheduled to return the tracking device.
Study Participant Benefits
For their time, participants will receive personalized health data including:
“Knowing your health status right now is essential in knowing how to move forward,” Cogan said. “We see from the research that one’s health has an impact on the rate at which we experience cognitive decline. With this knowledge, our hope is that it stimulates reflection and empowers participants to make choices that may improve both their health and quality of life.”
In addition to gaining valuable insight into their own health, participants will be contributing to a broader scientific effort.
“Being a research participant is a great opportunity to both learn about yourself and contribute to greater scientific discovery,” she said. “Participating in student-driven research also engages early scientists — such a unique and incredibly valuable experience for undergraduates seeking to go beyond in-classroom learning.”
Participation is voluntary, and individuals may withdraw at any time.
To see if you qualify or to request more information, contact Dr. Cogan at ecogan@cord.edu or 218.299.3644.
Cogan’s expertise is on simple dietary changes that impact cardiovascular, vascular, and cognitive health. She teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses at Concordia.