Citicoline – A supplement for natural brain power
Citicoline consists of the two substances choline and cytidine and is physiologically formed in the human body as an intermediate product in the so-called Kennedy metabolic pathway. This biochemical process produces phosphatidylcholine, an essential component of cell membranes. These membranes envelop the nerve cells and are crucial for their stability, elasticity and functional performance. Citicoline indirectly supports the formation and regeneration of these membrane structures and thus makes a significant contribution to the health, communication and performance of nerve cells. In addition, it can promote the production of certain neurotransmitters, which can also have a positive effect on cognitive performance.
Supplementation with citicoline has been associated with positive effects in dementia in numerous studies. A recent systematic review with meta-analysis confirms these results and shows that citicoline can have beneficial effects in both dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI, a possible precursor to dementia) [1].
What science says
The study by Bonvicini et al. summarizes a total of seven individual studies, including two randomized clinical trials. Four of these studies looked at the effect of citicoline in Alzheimer’s patients. One study examined patients with post-stroke dementia, while two other studies focused on people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The intervention groups received citicoline either as the sole treatment or as an addition to existing standard therapies. In the Alzheimer’s studies, citicoline was administered at a dosage of 1000 mg per day over a period of 9 to 12 months. In patients with MCI, the dosage was between 600 and 1000 mg per day. Cognitive abilities were assessed using various neuropsychological tests, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
Study results for dementia
The study results show that citicoline can have a positive effect on thinking and memory, i.e. cognitive function, in patients with Alzheimer’s or mixed dementia, i.e. a combination of different forms of dementia.
In the studies by Castagna et al. and Gareri et al., people who took citicoline in addition to the usual medication were able to retain their cognitive performance better. The comparison groups without citicoline, on the other hand, lost significantly more of their mental abilities. Citicoline also showed positive effects in people with dementia following a stroke. In the Alvarez-Sabin study, the proportion of citicoline patients with severe mental impairment fell from 43.6% to 27.9% within two years. In the group without citicoline, the decline was significantly lower at only 39%. Mental performance was measured using the MMSE test. This is a short questionnaire that tests various areas such as memory, concentration, orientation and language comprehension in order to assess how well a person’s ability to think functions [1].
Study results for mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
Citicoline also showed promising results in people with MCI, a possible preliminary stage of dementia in which there are measurable but not yet severely limiting memory and thinking problems.
In the study by Cotroneo et al., the cognitive performance of the participants who took citicoline remained stable over nine months. In contrast, the performance of the group receiving a placebo deteriorated significantly. Another study by Li and colleagues examined people with Parkinson’s disease and MCI. There, treatment with citicoline led to better cognitive performance after 12 and 18 months in contrast to the control group. Here, cognitive function was measured using the MoCA and SCOPA-COG test. The MoCA test examines various mental abilities such as memory, attention and problem solving, while the SCOPA-COG was developed specifically for cognitive functions in Parkinson’s patients [1].
Conclusion
The study results show that citicoline can have positive effects on thinking and memory in various forms of cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease, mixed dementia, post-stroke dementia and MCI. In both dementia patients and people with MCI, citicoline was able to slow down or even stabilize cognitive decline.
References
- Bonvicini, M., Travaglini, S., Lelli, D., Antonelli Incalzi, R., & Pedone, C. (2023). Is Citicoline Effective in Preventing and Slowing Down Dementia?-A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 15(2), 386. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020386
Image 1 from: Shutterstock by Victor Moussa
