Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
07:01
Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
Improved cognitive-cerebral function in older adults with chromium supplementation
Robert Krikorian1, James C Eliassen, Erin L Boespflug
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, PO Box 670559, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0559, USA. robert.krikorian@uc.edu
Nutritional Neuroscience
|April 29, 2010
Summary
Chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation may improve cognitive inhibitory control in older adults with cognitive decline. While not improving memory retention, CrPic reduced interference and increased brain activation in key regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic disorders
- Gerontology
Background:
- Insulin resistance is linked to Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology.
- Treatments for insulin resistance can improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's.
- Chromium (Cr) supplementation aids glucose disposal in insulin-resistant individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation enhances memory and neural function in older adults with cognitive decline.
- To assess the effects of CrPic on cognitive inhibitory control and brain activity.
Main Methods:
- A 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involving 26 older adults with cognitive decline.
- Participants received either CrPic or a placebo.
- Cognitive assessments (memory, depression) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were conducted.
Main Results:
- CrPic supplementation did not enhance learning rate or retention.
- A reduction in semantic interference was observed across learning, recall, and recognition memory tasks.
- fMRI revealed increased activation in right thalamic, right temporal, right posterior parietal, and bifrontal regions in the CrPic group.
Conclusions:
- CrPic supplementation shows potential for enhancing cognitive inhibitory control in older adults at risk for neurodegeneration.
- CrPic may positively influence cerebral function, particularly in regions associated with executive functions and memory processing.
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,...
01:30Cognitive 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...
01:26Aging
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
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...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...