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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Aging Neurosci.
Sec. Neurocognitive Aging and Behavior
Volume 16 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1531278
This article is part of the Research Topic Lifestyle and Environmental Influences on Alzheimer's Disease: Exploring the Roles of Diet, Exercise, Cognitive Reserve, Sleep, and Air Quality View all 15 articles

Improving cognitive impairment through chronic consumption of natural compounds/extracts: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials

Provisionally accepted
Long Hoang Ngo Long Hoang Ngo Haesung Lee Haesung Lee Sook-Jeong Lee Sook-Jeong Lee *
  • Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy of extended supplementation (≥6 weeks) with natural compounds or extracts in improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Cochrane, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from inception to April 10, 2024. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials evaluating cognitive outcomes in patients with MCI or AD using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog).Results: From an initial pool of 6,687 articles, 45 were deemed relevant for qualitative analysis. Of these, 37 studies demonstrated improvements or positive trends in cognitive outcomes with natural compound or extract supplementation. A total of 35 studies met the criteria for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis, involving 4,974 participants, revealed significant improvements in ADAS-Cog scores (pooled standardized mean difference = -2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.26 to -1.50; t24 = -4.31, P < 0.01) following supplementation. Additionally, a suggestive trend towards improvement in MMSE scores was observed in a subgroup analysis of 1,717 participants (pooled standardized mean difference = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.06 to 1.46, t18 = 2.27, P = 0.04).Conclusions: These findings support the potential cognitive benefits of extended (≥6 weeks) supplementation with natural compounds or extracts in individuals with MCI or AD. Further research is warranted to confirm these results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

    Keywords: Aging, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive dysfunction, Meta-analysis, neurodegeneration

    Received: 20 Nov 2024; Accepted: 30 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Ngo, Lee and Lee. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Sook-Jeong Lee, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.