Assisting post-menopausal women towards healthy aging - can resveratrol enhance mood, physical function and cerebrovascular function and counteract cognitive decline?

Volunteers will arrive at the CNRC for further screening to determine study eligibility, having abstained from food or stimulants for at least an hour. Those who are required to consume regular medication will do so prior to their clinic visit. The timing of their last medication or supplement intake will be documented in the case report form. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight and waist circumference will be obtained prior to clinic BP measurements. Volunteers with clinic BP less than 160/100mHg will then proceed to have their dementia status assessed using the Australian Version of the Modified Mini Mental State Examination (3MS). Those scoring below 78/100 (considered an indicator of suspected dementia) will be excluded from this study. Volunteers will then be fitted with a headpiece supporting an ultrasound probe on each temporal region. The investigator will adjust the probes until a measurable blood flow signal is obtained in each MCA before CVR to hypercapnia in the MCA is obtained. If the investigator is unable to obtain a blood flow signal in either MCA, the participant will then proceed to do the neuropsychological tests. Volunteers with detectable blood flow signal will have continuous recordings of changes in mean blood flow velocities in their MCA during the neuropsychological test battery recorded (CVR to cognitive stimuli). The investigator will then readjust the ultrasound probes to locate the posterior cerebral arteries [either the posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) or the basilar artery (BA)] on either side of the temporal window. Due to the anatomical depth of the BA, the transforaminal (occipital) window is usually the site of insonation; however, it may be possible to detect a blood flow signal from the transtemporal window (same window as the MCA). In the event that the BA cannot be detected, the PCA will be located. Studies have confirmed that CVR to hypercapnia is similar in the PCA and BA and therefore can be interchangeable. Once a suitable blood flow signal is located (on either or both sides), CVR to hypercapnia in the posterior arteries will be obtained. Volunteers will NOT be excluded if no blood flow signals from the posterior arteries are detected. Only volunteers with successful blood flow signal on either side of the PCA/BA will undergo the hypercapnic assessments. Following the cognitive test assessments, participants will undergo a short battery of physical performance tests and complete six paper-based questionnaires that will measure various subjective perceptions on their current mood states, pain levels, sleep quality, quality of life and menopause-related symptoms on-site. The investigators will then provide the volunteers with their assigned supplements and a diary prior to their departure from the CNRC. The anticipated duration for this visit is estimated for 2.5 hrs. Weeks 0 to 14 supplementation Volunteers will be required to consume their allocated supplement capsules twice a day with meals and note the time of consumption in their supplement diary. Placebo and active capsules are identical in shape and colour. Enrolled participants will be required to consume 2 capsules daily (one in the morning and one in the evening), each containing 75mg of resveratrol or matching placebo. Every four weeks, they will also complete the questionnaires relating to sleep quality and menopausal symptoms to facilitate compliance. A study investigator will contact the volunteers midway through their intervention to check their well-being and to monitor compliance with treatment. Visit 2 Participants will refrain from consuming their supplement on the day of their scheduled visit. They will also return the bottles and all remaining capsules. A study investigator will count the leftover capsules to determine compliance. All assessments of clinic BP, CVR to hypercapnia and neuropsychological test battery, physical performance test and questionnaires of mood, pain, menopausal symptoms, sleep quality and QoL will be repeated at the end of the 14 week intervention.