Augmenting Cognitive Function in the Elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Probiotic Lacticaseibacillus...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Probiotics show potential for cognitive enhancement in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• Efficacy of probiotics for cognitive function varies by strain and dosage.
• Further clinical research is needed to confirm safety, efficacy, and mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the dosage, safety, and efficacy of MH-Pro (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus CBT-LR5 and skim milk) in older adults with suspected MCI.
• To evaluate MH-Pro's impact on cognitive function and physiological changes over 12 weeks.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial involving 20 participants (mean age 68.9 years).
• Participants were randomized into low-dose (1x10^10 CFU LR5 with 1622 mg skim milk) and high-dose (1x10^10 CFU LR5 with 4055 mg skim milk) groups.
• Cognitive function, blood amyloid-beta levels, and fecal microbiota were analyzed over 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• The low-dose group showed significant improvements in MOCA-K naming and delayed recall, and decreased blood amyloid-beta 40/42 levels.
• Overall cognitive enhancement was significant in the low-dose group (p=0.003) and showed a trend in the high-dose group (p=0.06).
• Fecal analysis indicated an increase in Lacticaseibacillus, suggesting gut-brain axis modulation.

Conclusions:

• Foundational evidence supports MH-Pro (LR5 and skim milk) as a probiotic supplement for cognitive enhancement in the aging population.
• The low-dose MH-Pro demonstrated significant cognitive benefits and physiological changes.
• Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these preliminary findings.