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Published on: January 11, 2020
Chinese herbal medicine for mild cognitive impairment using mini-mental state examination: A systematic review and
Wei Wang1, Yongchang Diwu, Qi Liu
1Shaanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China.
Introduction:
The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly population aged 60 to 84 years ranges from 6.7% to 25.2%, and the effective prevention and reversal of MCI progression to Alzheimer disease (AD) is crucial. The mini mental state examination (MMSE) is the most commonly used screening tool in Chinese outpatient clinics, with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to allow useful stratification from average to abnormal with adequate consideration of age and education.
Objective:
To investigate the clinical significance of Chinese herbs on MMSE scores in MCI patients and discuss the effectiveness of Chinese herbs through pharmacology.
Methods:
Three English databases and 4 Chinese databases we have searched, and the risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane tool. Statistics will be used for heterogeneity assessment, sensitivity analysis, data synthesis, funnel plot generation and subgroup analysis. If sufficiently homogeneous studies are found, a Meta-analysis will be performed, with subgroups describing any differences.
Results:
A total of 21 studies were included, 4 studies were placebo-controlled, 14 Chinese Herbal Medicines (CHMs) were compared with other cognitive improvements, 3 CHMs were combined with other medications, and the results of 17 studies favored the herbal group.
Conclusion:
The results indicate that herbal medicine can improve MMSE scores, and herbal medicine combined with other drugs that can improve cognition can significantly improve MMSE scores, but there are methodological flaws in the study. Experimental studies have found a basis for the ability of herbs to improve cognition and memory impairment, and herbal medicine has great potential to improve MCI cognition. Keywords mild cognitive impairment, herbal medicine, MMSE, systematic evaluation, meta-analysis. PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews protocol registration number: CRD42020202368.
Insights
Chinese herbal medicine shows potential in improving cognitive scores for individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Further research is needed due to methodological limitations in current studies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 6.7%–25.2% of the elderly population (60-84 years).
- Preventing MCI progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a critical health concern.
- The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a standard screening tool for cognitive function in Chinese clinics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical impact of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) on MMSE scores in MCI patients.
- To explore the pharmacological basis for CHMs' effectiveness in cognitive enhancement.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 studies from English and Chinese databases.
- Risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane tool.
- Statistical analyses including heterogeneity assessment, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis.
Main Results:
- Seventeen of the 21 studies favored CHM interventions.
- CHMs demonstrated potential in improving MMSE scores among MCI patients.
- Combination therapy of CHMs with other drugs showed significant MMSE score improvements.
Conclusions:
- Herbal medicine shows promise for improving cognitive function in MCI patients.
- CHMs, particularly in combination with other treatments, may significantly enhance MMSE scores.
- Methodological limitations in existing studies necessitate further rigorous research.
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