Sage extract shown to support working memory in recent study

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A study recently published in Nutrients¹ found that supplementation with a proprietary sage extract (Cognivia from Nexira; Rouen, France) containing polyphenols and terpenoids of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia, respectively, supported acute and long-term cognitive outcomes. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups design study, 94 subjects were given either 600 mg of the sage extract or placebo every day for 29 days. Cognitive and mood assessment were conducted on the first day of treatment and day 29. Acute effects were the changes within day 1 and day 29 of testing, and chronic effects were changes between day one and day 29.

Results showed that compared to placebo, subjects taking the sage extract performed significantly better on working memory and accuracy tasks both acutely and chronically. “The results here demonstrate some clear, additive benefits of sage to individual task performance as well as an attenuation of natural declines in performance; with the effects clearly isolated to the accuracy and working memory performance cognitive domains,” the study states. “The most convincing effects of sage are seen on day 29 and the existence of pure chronic effects on these measures suggests that these effects are the result of a cumulative effect of sage consumed over 29 days.”