Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
10:37
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Memory Enhancement
Published on: September 18, 2021
BT-11 is effective for enhancing cognitive functions in the elderly humans
Ki Young Shin1, Jun-Young Lee, Beom Young Won
1Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Creative Research Initiative Center for Alzheimer's Dementia and Neuroscience Research Institute, MRC, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea.
Neuroscience Letters
|August 25, 2009
Summary
BT-11, derived from Polygala tenuifolia, significantly improved cognitive functions in the elderly. This nutraceutical may offer health benefits, including memory enhancement and disease prevention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Polygala tenuifolia roots have a history of use for sedative effects.
- Previous research indicated BT-11 improved memory in rats and normal humans.
- BT-11 demonstrated in vitro inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of BT-11 in enhancing cognitive functions in the elderly.
- To conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on elderly individuals.
Main Methods:
- Employed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design.
- Utilized the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognitive assessment.
- Assessed 28 participants in the BT-11 group and 25 in the placebo group.
Main Results:
- The BT-11 group showed significantly higher total CERAD scores compared to the placebo group.
- Marked improvements were observed in word list recognition, constructional recall and praxis, and the modified Boston naming test in the BT-11 group.
- Cognitive function enhancements were statistically significant in the BT-11 treated elderly participants.
Conclusions:
- BT-11 demonstrates potential in enhancing specific cognitive functions, including memory, in the elderly population.
- BT-11 may serve as a valuable nutraceutical for promoting cognitive health and potentially preventing or treating age-related cognitive decline.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
01:22Dementia l: Introduction
Dementia is an acquired, progressive syndrome characterized by a decline in multiple cognitive domains severe enough to impair daily functioning and reduce independence. Although memory loss is a central feature, the diagnosis requires additional deficits involving language, executive function, visuospatial skills, judgment, calculation, or abstract reasoning. These cognitive impairments reflect underlying neurodegenerative or vascular processes that gradually disrupt neuronal networks...