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1.
Neurocognitive Outcomes from Memantine: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Soorya, LV, Fogg, L, Ocampo, E, Printen, M, Youngkin, S, Halpern, D, Kolevzon, A, Lee, S, Grodberg, D, Anagnostou, E
Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology. 2021;(7):475-484
Abstract
Objective: Studies interrogating therapeutics which alter the excitation-inhibition balance in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have reported mixed results on social and behavioral outcomes. Methods: The aim of this randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial was to evaluate neurocognitive effects of memantine over a 24-week trial. Twenty-three children ages 6-12 years old with ASD were randomized to memantine or placebo. Primary outcomes included measures of apraxia and expressive language with evaluations at midpoint (week 12) and endpoint (week 24). Secondary outcomes included memory and adaptive behavior measures. Exploratory outcomes included changes in overall cognitive functioning and behavior (e.g., Aberrant Behavior Checklist). Results: Results suggest that memantine was well-tolerated. Dropout rates were high across groups with only 14 participants completing the 6-month trial. Memantine was not associated with improvements in apraxia and expressive language. Treatment with memantine was associated with improvements in verbal recognition memory as measured by the Narrative Memory-Recognition (NEPSY-II) (F = 5.05, p = .03). In addition, exploratory analyses of changes in Intelligence quotient (IQ) suggest improvements on verbal IQ (d = 1.8). Conclusions: Results suggest future studies of memantine in ASD may benefit from shifting treatment targets from social and behavioral outcomes to exploration of effects of memantine on cognition, potentially as an adjunct to learning and educational interventions. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01372449.
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2.
Efficacy and Safety of Sesame Oil Cake Extract on Memory Function Improvement: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.
Jung, SJ, Jung, ES, Ha, KC, Baek, HI, Park, YK, Han, SK, Chae, SW, Lee, SO, Chung, YC
Nutrients. 2021;(8)
Abstract
The goal of treatment for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is to reduce the existing clinical symptoms, delay the progression of cognitive impairment and prevent the progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD). At present, there is no effective drug therapy for AD treatment. However, early intake of dietary supplements may be effective in alleviating and delaying the MCI. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sesame oil cake extract (SOCE) supplementation on cognitive function in aged 60 years or older adults with memory impairment. A total of 70 subjects received either SOCE (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35) for 12 weeks based on random 1:1 assignment to these two groups. Cognitive function was evaluated by a computerized neurocognitive function test (CNT), and changes in the concentrations of plasma amyloid β (Aβ) proteins and urine 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine) were investigated before and after the experiment. Verbal learning test index items of the CNT improved markedly in the SOCE group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, plasma amyloid-β (1-40) and amyloid-β (1-42) levels in the SOCE group decreased significantly compared to that in the placebo group (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in urine 8-OHdG between the two groups (p > 0.05). Collectively, intake of SOCE for 12 weeks appears to have a beneficial effect on the verbal memory abilities and plasma β-amyloid levels of older adults with memory impairment.
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3.
The cognitive effects of an acute wild blueberry intervention on 7- to 10-year-olds using extended memory and executive function task batteries.
Whyte, AR, Lamport, DJ, Schafer, G, Williams, CM
Food & function. 2020;(5):4793-4801
Abstract
Evidence for the health benefits of blueberries is well documented. In particular, memory and executive function benefits have both been found for children aged 7-10 in the 6 hours period following acute blueberry consumption. Previous research has utilised a limited number of tasks when considering these domains. Therefore, in two separate experiments, we employed extended memory and executive function task batteries to further understand the extent of blueberry benefits. Following blueberry intervention, children aged 7-10 were tested on a memory battery at 75 minutes and an executive function battery at 3 hours. Shorter memory reaction times were observed on the visuo-spatial grid task and shorter executive function reaction times were observed on the congruent trials of the attention network task. Whilst providing further evidence for the cognitive benefits of blueberry consumption in school age children, these findings contrast with previous research where improved accuracy and reaction time benefits have most commonly been found on more cognitively demanding trials. Further research targeted to consider the areas of the brain related to each cognitive domain and how they coincide with mechanisms of action, such as increases in cerebral blood flow following blueberry intervention, is therefore recommended.
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4.
Focused attention during eating enhanced memory for meal satiety but did not reduce later snack intake in men: A randomised within-subjects laboratory experiment.
Whitelock, V, Gaglione, A, Davies-Owen, J, Robinson, E
Appetite. 2019;:124-129
Abstract
Attending to food being eaten ('attentive eating') may reduce later overeating. However, evidence in support of this comes primarily from studies in women. The aims of the current study were to investigate the effect that attentive eating has on later food intake in men and examine potential underlying mechanisms. Using a within-subjects design, 34 men (BMI M = 23.73 kg/m2, SD = 2.93; age M = 29.15, SD = 11.99) consumed a fixed lunchtime meal on two study days. On one study day participants were instructed to pay attention to the sensory properties of the meal as they ate (focused attention condition), and on the other study day participants ate lunch normally. Three hours after each lunchtime session, ad libitum consumption of snack food was measured, and measures of memory for the earlier lunchtime meal were completed. Participants remembered the lunch to be significantly more satiating in the focused attention condition compared to the control condition. However, focused attention did not significantly affect later ad libitum snack intake or other measures of meal memory. Further research is needed to understand when focused attention influences subsequent food intake before this approach can be used effectively to reduce food intake.
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5.
Effect of a Fibroin Enzymatic Hydrolysate on Memory Improvement: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study.
Kang, YK, Lee, BY, Bucci, LR, Stohs, SJ
Nutrients. 2018;(2)
Abstract
The consumption of a specifically prepared silk fibroin protein enzymatic hydrolysate (FPEH) has been reported to improve cognitive function in healthy humans. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of the FPEH on memory. Healthy adults with an average age of approximately 55 years were administered doses of 0, 280, 400 and 600 mg of FPEH per day in two divided doses for 3 weeks. The Rey-Kim Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Rey-Kim Complex Figure Test of the Rey-Kim Memory Test were used to evaluate memory at baseline and after 3 weeks. The scores for each test were combined into the memory quotient score (MQ). Learning gradient, memory maintenance, retrieval efficacy, and drawing/recall scores were also compared. After 3 weeks of FPEH, dose-dependent increases were observed for the MQ, the learning gradient, the numbers of words remembered, the retrieval efficiency, and drawing/recall. The optimal dose for FPEH was 400 or 600 mg, depending on the end point measured. No adverse effects were reported. FPEH significantly improved measurements of memory in healthy adults by 3 weeks at doses over 280 mg daily, with an apparent plateau effect at 400-600 mg daily.
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6.
Complex antioxidants in a randomized single-blinded study of memory in seniors.
Summers, WK, Martin, RL, Liu, Y, Peña, B, Marsh, GM
Aging clinical and experimental research. 2018;(4):395-405
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oxidative injury to the brain and aging are theoretical co-causes of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Amyloid plaques and tangles are then secondary phenomenon. The preclinical state would then be 'normal' elderly. METHODS A potent complex antioxidant (antiOx) was tested against a popular one-a-day multivitamin (mV) in a randomized single blind design in 'normal' senior subjects over 6 months. Memory testing was done at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach was used to compare the change score of NLT100 and 20WR between two groups over time. RESULTS Analysis of the antiOx group (30 subjects) demonstrated significant improvement in declarative memory (change score for NLT100 at month 6 = 6.36 p < 0.0001) and working memory (change score for 20WR at month 6 = 3.23, p < 0.0001). A change-score analysis over 6 months suggests possible neurogenesis in the antiOx group. The mV group (33 subjects) had a change score of the NLT100 and 20WR on the sixth month of 2.20 and 0.32 (p = 0.07, 0.35). CONCLUSIONS A complex antioxidant blend, sold as an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement, can improve memory in elder subjects. Antioxidants may be beneficial in AD and other neurodegerative diseases.
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7.
The effect of spermidine on memory performance in older adults at risk for dementia: A randomized controlled trial.
Wirth, M, Benson, G, Schwarz, C, Köbe, T, Grittner, U, Schmitz, D, Sigrist, SJ, Bohlken, J, Stekovic, S, Madeo, F, et al
Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior. 2018;:181-188
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nutritional intervention with the natural polyamine spermidine, an autophagy-enhancing agent, can prevent memory loss in aging model organisms. This is the first human study to evaluate the impact of spermidine supplementation on memory performance in older adults at risk for the development of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS Cognitively intact participants with subjective cognitive decline (n = 30, 60-80 years of age) were included in this three-months, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase IIa pilot trial with a spermidine-rich plant extract supplement. Effects of intervention were assessed using the behavioral mnemonic similarity task, measured at baseline and post-intervention visits. Data analysis was focused on reporting and interpreting effectiveness based on effect sizes. RESULTS Memory performance was moderately enhanced in the spermidine group compared with placebo at the end of intervention [contrast mean = .17, 95% confidence interval (CI): -.01, .35, Cohen's d = .77, 95% CI: 0, 1.53]. Mnemonic discrimination ability improved in the spermidine-treated group with a medium effect size (mean difference = -.11, 95% CI: -.19, -.03, Cohen's d = .79, 95% CI: .01, 1.55). A similar effect was not found in the placebo-treated group (mean difference = .07, 95% CI: -.13, .27, Cohen's d = -.20, 95% CI: -.94, .54). DISCUSSION In this pilot trial, nutritional spermidine was associated with a positive impact on memory performance in older adults with subject cognitive decline. The beneficial effect might be mediated by stimulation of neuromodulatory actions in the memory system. A follow-up Phase IIb randomized controlled trial will help validate the therapeutic potential of spermidine supplementation and delineate possible neurophysiological mechanisms of action. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the Identifier NCT02755246.
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8.
Efficacy and Safety of Tremella fuciformis in Individuals with Subjective Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Ban, S, Lee, SL, Jeong, HS, Lim, SM, Park, S, Hong, YS, Kim, JE
Journal of medicinal food. 2018;(4):400-407
Abstract
The efficacy and safety of Tremella fuciformis (TF) as a nutritional supplement were assessed in individuals with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI). Seventy-five individuals with SCI were enrolled in an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of TF (600 mg/day, n = 30 or 1200 mg/day, n = 30) or placebo (n = 15). The primary outcome measure was changes in total scores of the subjective memory complaint questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures were changes in performance on short-term memory and executive functions, which were assessed using standardized cognitive tests. In addition, voxel-based morphometry was performed to examine the effects of TF on changes in gray matter volume. The individuals in the TF group showed greater improvements in the total scores on the subjective memory complaint questionnaire compared with those in the placebo group. There were also significantly greater improvements in short-term memory and executive functions in the TF group relative to the placebo group. Exploratory analysis demonstrated that there were significant group-by-visit interactions on the left precuneus, right supramarginal gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and right postcentral gyrus at corrected P < .05. Overall frequency of adverse events did not differ among high-dose TF (40.4%), low-dose TF (35.1%), and placebo groups (41.4%). The current findings suggest that TF could be safely administered to relieve subjective memory complaints and enhance cognition in individuals with SCI.
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9.
Memory and Brain Amyloid and Tau Effects of a Bioavailable Form of Curcumin in Non-Demented Adults: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled 18-Month Trial.
Small, GW, Siddarth, P, Li, Z, Miller, KJ, Ercoli, L, Emerson, ND, Martinez, J, Wong, KP, Liu, J, Merrill, DA, et al
The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. 2018;(3):266-277
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Because curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties may protect the brain from neurodegeneration, we studied its effect on memory in non-demented adults and explored its impact on brain amyloid and tau accumulation using 2-(1-{6-[(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl}ethylidene)malononitrile positron emission tomography (FDDNP-PET). METHODS Forty subjects (age 51-84 years) were randomized to a bioavailable form of curcumin (Theracurmin® containing 90 mg of curcumin twice daily [N = 21]) or placebo (N = 19) for 18 months. Primary outcomes were verbal (Buschke Selective Reminding Test [SRT]) and visual (Brief Visual Memory Test-Revised [BVMT-R]) memory, and attention (Trail Making A) was a secondary outcome. FDDNP-PET signals (15 curcumin, 15 placebo) were determined in amygdala, hypothalamus, medial and lateral temporal, posterior cingulate, parietal, frontal, and motor (reference) regions. Mixed effects general linear models controlling for age and education, and effect sizes (ES; Cohen's d) were estimated. RESULTS SRT Consistent Long-Term Retrieval improved with curcumin (ES = 0.63, p = 0.002) but not with placebo (ES = 0.06, p = 0.8; between-group: ES = 0.68, p = 0.05). Curcumin also improved SRT Total (ES = 0.53, p = 0.002), visual memory (BVMT-R Recall: ES = 0.50, p = 0.01; BVMT-R Delay: ES = 0.51, p = 0.006), and attention (ES = 0.96, p < 0.0001) compared with placebo (ES = 0.28, p = 0.1; between-group: ES = 0.67, p = 0.04). FDDNP binding decreased significantly in the amygdala with curcumin (ES = -0.41, p = 0.04) compared with placebo (ES = 0.08, p = 0.6; between-group: ES = 0.48, p = 0.07). In the hypothalamus, FDDNP binding did not change with curcumin (ES = -0.30, p = 0.2), but increased with placebo (ES = 0.26, p = 0.05; between-group: ES = 0.55, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Daily oral Theracurmin may lead to improved memory and attention in non-demented adults. The FDDNP-PET findings suggest that symptom benefits are associated with decreases in amyloid and tau accumulation in brain regions modulating mood and memory.
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10.
Comparative effect of coffee robusta and coffee arabica (Qahwa) on memory and attention.
Alharbi, WDM, Azmat, A, Ahmed, M
Metabolic brain disease. 2018;(4):1203-1210
Abstract
The comparative effects of coffee robusta and coffee arabica (Qahwa) on different attention and memory related assignments were measured in a double-blind study of 300 healthy young adult women who were randomly assigned to one of three different drinks: Group I (coffee robusta sachet dissolved in 100 ml of hot water): Group II (coffee arabica): and group III (100 ml water only). Cognitive function was assessed by standardized tests. Several monitoring cognitive tests and tasks were specifically chosen and performed to investigate the comparative effects of coffee robusta (CR) and coffee arabica (Qahwa; AC) on sleepiness (sleep and clear headed scale), attention (trail A & B, symbol digit, letter cancellation), general cognitive ability (stroop test) and memory (card test). Data was interpreted by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The present study revealed that coffee robusta has beneficial effects on attention, general cognitive ability and memory. Higher though non-significant cognitive scores were associated with coffee robusta consumption. Although, consumption of coffee arabica (Qahwa) has significant effects (P < 0.05) on sleepiness, attention, general cognitive ability and memory and it significantly improve reaction time and correct responses. Since different tasks were related to the sustained attention and working memory processes, results would suggest that coffee arabica (qahwa) could increase the memory and efficiency of the attentional system might be due to the presence of chlorogenic acids (CGA) which are found in less quantity in coffee robusta. However, more studies using larger samples and different tasks are necessary to better understand the effects of coffee robusta and arabica (Qahwa) on attention and memory.