ExoBDNF Probiotic Supplementation Enhances Cognition in Subjective Cognitive Decline.
Ching-En Lin1,2, Li-Fen Chen3,4, Wen-Hui Fang5
1Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|January 28, 2026
Summary
A novel probiotic, ExoBDNF, improved cognitive function, sleep, and emotional well-being in adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD). This highlights the gut-brain axis as a therapeutic target for early Alzheimer's prevention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) is a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.
- Interventions targeting the gut-brain axis show promise for cognitive health.
- ExoBDNF is a novel probiotic supplement designed to modulate the gut-brain axis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of ExoBDNF in adults with SCD.
- To assess the impact of ExoBDNF on cognitive function, sleep, and emotional distress.
- To explore the relationship between cognitive changes and emotional well-being.
Main Methods:
- An open-label, 9-week study involving ExoBDNF supplementation.
- Cognitive function was assessed using MoCA and a cognitive battery (inhibition, flexibility, working memory).
- Subjective cognition, sleep quality, and emotional distress were measured using SCD-Q, PSQI, and DASS-21, respectively.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in subjective cognition (SCD-Q), sleep quality (PSQI), and emotional distress (DASS-21).
- Objective cognitive performance, including MoCA scores and executive functions, showed significant gains.
- Reductions in SCD scores correlated with decreased emotional distress, and higher baseline SCD predicted greater emotional improvement.
Conclusions:
- ExoBDNF supplementation effectively enhanced cognitive performance, sleep, and emotional well-being in adults with SCD.
- The study supports the gut-brain axis as a therapeutic target for managing early cognitive decline.
- Improvements in subjective cognition are linked to reductions in emotional distress, underscoring a holistic approach to brain health.
More Related Videos
09:43A Fully Automated Rodent Conditioning Protocol for Sensorimotor Integration and Cognitive Control Experiments
Published on: April 15, 2014
11.0K
10:13Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
14.1K
Related Concept Videos
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
37.5K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
37.5K
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
615
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.
615
01:27Language and Cognition
763
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
763
01:25Cognitive Therapy
1.0K
Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
1.0K
01:23Cognition and Behavior
369
Social psychology examines the complex interplay between individual mental processes and social interactions. Historically, the field was divided into two domains: social behavior and social cognition. Researchers focusing on social behavior analyzed actions within social contexts, such as conformity, aggression, or cooperation. Meanwhile, social cognition researchers investigated how people perceive, interpret, and mentally represent their social environments. However, modern perspectives no...
369
01:21Cognitive Learning
1.1K
Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
1.1K