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A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Toward establishing guidelines for evaluating cognitive enhancement with complementary and alterative medicines
Paul R Solomon1, Diana E Michalczuk
1Department of Psychology, Program in Neuroscience, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA. psolomon@williams.edu
Evaluation & the Health Professions
|November 21, 2009
Summary
Complementary and alternative medications (CAM) show mixed results for cognitive enhancement. Establishing standardized guidelines is crucial for evaluating CAM
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Growing use of complementary and alternative medications (CAM) for cognitive enhancement in elderly and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
- Conflicting research results on CAM efficacy for cognitive function.
- Lack of regulatory oversight and standardized study guidelines complicates interpretation of CAM research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a roadmap for establishing guidelines for evaluating CAM in cognitive function.
- To apply proposed guidelines to the literature on Ginkgo biloba to reconcile conflicting findings.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of existing literature on CAM for cognitive enhancement.
- Development of a framework for standardized study design, outcomes, and analysis.
- Application of the proposed framework to Ginkgo biloba studies.
Main Results:
- Divergent methodologies and cognitive measures in current CAM studies hinder comparison.
- Ginkgo biloba studies show conflicting results regarding cognitive benefits.
- Proposed guidelines aim to standardize CAM evaluation for cognitive health.
Conclusions:
- Standardized guidelines are essential for consistent evaluation of CAM for cognitive enhancement.
- The proposed roadmap can help resolve discrepancies in CAM research, particularly for agents like Ginkgo biloba.
- Further research adhering to standardized protocols is needed to clarify CAM's role in cognitive health.
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