Effects of the Combination Herbal Extract on Working Memory and White Matter Integrity in Healthy Individuals with Subjective Memory Complaints : A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
- Author:
Oran KWON
1
;
Sunho LEE
;
Soonhyun BAN
;
Jooyeon J IM
;
Doo Suk LEE
;
Eun Hee LEE
;
Joohee KIM
;
Soo Mee LIM
;
Sang Gon LEE
;
Ilhyang KANG
;
Kyung Hee KIM
;
Sujung YOON
;
Sun Hea LEE
Author Information
1. Ewha Brain Institute, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea. leesunhea@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Clinical Trial ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Combination herbal extract;
Working memory;
Diffusion tensor imaging;
White matter integrity;
Subjective memory complaints
- MeSH:
Animals;
Anisotropy;
Diffusion Tensor Imaging;
Gastrodia;
Humans;
Memory*;
Memory, Short-Term*;
Mice;
Salvia miltiorrhiza
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry
2015;22(2):63-77
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The combination extract of four kinds of herbs, Gastrodia elata, Liriope platyphylla, Dimocarpus longan, and Salvia miltiorrhiza, has shown to have memory improving effects in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the herbal mixture for improving working memory as well as microstructural changes in white matter integrity in individuals with subjective memory complaints. METHODS: Seventy-five individuals with subjective memory complaints were assigned to receive either placebo (n = 15) or herbal mixture (low-dose group, n = 30 and high-dose group, n = 30) supplementation in an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Changes in working memory performance and fractional anisotropy (FA) values reflecting white matter integrity from baseline to 8-week endpoint were assessed. RESULTS: The herbal mixture group showed an increase in working memory performance compared to the placebo group (p for interaction = 0.001). In addition, the herbal mixture group showed an increase in FA values in the temporo-parietal regions (corrected p < 0.05), which are crucially involved in working memory function and are among the most affected regions in patients with cognitive impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate that the herbal mixture may be a promising therapeutic option for individuals with subjective memory complaints.
