Citicoline Improves Mild Vascular Cognitive Impairment in Elderly, Says New Italian Study

Citicoline may improve mild vascular cognitive impairment in elderly people who experience everyday memory lapses, according to an Italian study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging. The study-called the IDEALE study-examined the effects of a 500-mg oral dose, twice daily, of ingredient supplier Kyowa Hakko’s (New York City) citicoline.

The study included 349 patients, who were divided into citicoline and control groups. The study focused only on elderly people with mild vascular cognitive impairment, so any with probable Alzheimer’s disease were excluded.

Subjects were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 9 months. According to researchers, who evaluated subjects using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaires to examine the progression and severity of memory problems, the citicoline group’s MMSE scores remained at baseline, while the control group’s scores declined, indicating that citicoline may have neuroprotective effects.

“In this study, citicoline was effective and well tolerated in patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment,” researchers said. “Citicoline activates biosynthesis of phospholipids in neuronal membranes, increases brain metabolism, as well as norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the central nervous system, and has neuroprotective effects during hypoxia and ischemia.”