Citicoline and Memory Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial: Clinical Study Findings
A 12-week clinical study found that Cognizin® Citicoline may improve memory performance in healthy older adults with age-associated memory impairment.
Authors
Eri Nakazaki, Eunice Mah, Kristen Sanoshy, Danielle Citrolo, and Fumiko Watanabe
Institution
Research & Innovation Center, Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd, Japan
Source
The Journal of Nutrition, August 2021; 151(8): 2153–2160.
Abstract
Rationale
Citicoline (CDP-choline) is a naturally occurring compound that plays a key role in brain health. While it has shown beneficial effects on memory and behavior in people with cognitive impairments, few studies have explored its impact on memory function in healthy older adults.
Objective
To investigate whether daily supplementation with Cognizin® Citicoline improves memory function in healthy older adults with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI).
Methods
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 100 healthy men and women aged 50–85 with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI). Participants received either 500 mg/day of Cognizin® Citicoline or a placebo for 12 weeks. Memory performance was assessed using the Cambridge Brain Sciences (CBS) battery of computerized cognitive tests at baseline and after 12 weeks.
Results
Participants taking Cognizin® Citicoline showed significantly greater improvements in:
- Episodic memory, as measured by the Paired Associate test (mean change: 0.15 vs. 0.06; p = 0.0025)
- Composite memory, calculated from four memory assessments (mean change: 3.78 vs. 0.72; p = 0.0052)
These improvements were not observed in the placebo group, suggesting that daily citicoline supplementation may have potential memory-supportive benefits.
Conclusion
Daily Cognizin® Citicoline supplementation may help support memory function in older adults, particularly in the area of episodic memory. These findings highlight its potential role in maintaining cognitive health with age.
