Citicoline and Memory Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Supplementation of citicoline (CDP-choline), a naturally occurring mononucleotide, has shown beneficial effects on memory function and behavior in populations with a wide range of impairments. However, few studies have investigated its effect in healthy older populations.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of citicoline (Cognizin®), on memory in healthy elderly populations with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI).

Methods: A total of 100 healthy men and women aged between 50 and 85 y with AAMI participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomized to receive placebo (n = 51) or citicoline (n = 49; 500 mg/d) for 12 wk. Memory function was assessed at baseline and end of the intervention (12 wk) using computerized tests (Cambridge Brain Sciences, Ontario, Canada). Safety measurements included adverse events query, body weight, blood pressure, and hematology and metabolic panel. Intent-to-treat analysis was conducted using ANCOVA for the primary and secondary outcome variables with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results: A total of 99 out of 100 participants completed the study in its entirety. After the 12-wk intervention, participants supplemented with citicoline showed significantly greater improvements in secondary outcomes of episodic memory (assessed by the Paired Associate test), compared with those on placebo (mean: 0.15 vs. 0.06, respectively, P = 0.0025). Composite memory (secondary outcome), calculated using the scores of 4 memory tests, also significantly improved to a greater extent following citicoline supplementation (mean: 3.78) compared with placebo (mean: 0.72, P = 0.0052).

Conclusions: Dietary supplementation of citicoline for 12 wk improved overall memory performance, especially episodic memory, in healthy older males and females with AAMI. The findings suggest that regular consumption of citicoline may be safe and potentially beneficial against memory loss due to aging. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03369925.

Keywords: 5′-cytidine diphosphate choline; aging; brain; citicoline; memory loss.

© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.

Figures

FIGURE 1

CONSORT participant flow diagram.

FIGURE 2

Composite memory scores after 12 wk of citicoline supplementation of the citicoline supplementation group and the placebo group in the ITT population. Participants were healthy older-aged males and females with AAMI. Data shown are unadjusted means ± SEMs for each test group. n = 51 for placebo and n = 49–48 for citicoline. An increased score indicates improvement. The P value shows between-group difference (vs. placebo) for the raw change score using ANCOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. The raw change was calculated as the difference in scores at baseline to the end of the test period for each participant.

FIGURE 3

Paired Associates scores after 12 wk of citicoline supplementation of the citicoline supplementation group and the placebo group in the ITT population. Participants were healthy older-aged males and females with AAMI. Data shown are unadjusted means ± SEMs for each test group. n = 51 for placebo and n = 49–48 for citicoline. An increased score indicates improvement. The P value shows between-group difference (vs. placebo) for the raw change score using ANCOVA with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. The raw change was calculated as the difference in scores at baseline to the end of the test period for each participant.