Cognizin® Citicoline Supports Brain Phospholipid Metabolism in Older Adults: Harvard Study Findings
A six-week study found that Cognizin® Citicoline increased brain phosphodiester levels in healthy older adults, supporting phospholipid metabolism and membrane turnover.
Authors
Sarah M. Babb, Lawrence L. Wald, Bruce M. Cohen, Rudy A. Villafuerte, Staci A. Gruber, Deborah A. Yurgelun-Todd, and Perry F. Renshaw
Institution
Consolidated Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Source
Psychopharmacology. May 2002; 161(3):248–254.
Abstract
Rationale
Phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), a key component of brain cell membranes, naturally declines with age. Preclinical studies in animals and cell models suggest that CDP-choline (citicoline) may increase phosphatidylcholine synthesis, supporting membrane health and turnover.
Objectives
This study aimed to evaluate whether six weeks of daily Cognizin® Citicoline supplementation could increase phospholipid metabolism in the brains of healthy older adults, as measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS).
Methods
In this double-phase study, healthy men and women over the age of 50 took 500 mg of Cognizin® Citicoline daily for six weeks. Participants were then randomly assigned to continue taking Cognizin® or switch to a placebo for an additional six weeks. Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) scans were conducted at baseline, week 6, and week 12 to measure changes in phosphorus-containing metabolites in the brain, including phosphodiesters associated with membrane turnover.
Results
After six weeks of daily Cognizin® Citicoline supplementation:
- Brain phosphodiesters increased by 7.3% (P = 0.008)
- Glycerophosphoethanolamine (GPE) increased by 11.6% (P = 0.002)
- Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) increased by 5.1% (P = 0.137)
No significant changes were observed in other phosphorus-containing metabolites. Continued supplementation during the second 6-week period did not yield further increases. Notably, Increases in phosphodiesters were positively associated with trending improvements on the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT).
Conclusions
Results suggest that six weeks of oral Cognizin® Citicoline may support phospholipid metabolism and membrane turnover in healthy older adults. These findings are consistent with prior in vitro and animal research and provide insight into citicoline’s potential to help maintain brain cell structure with age.
