Psychophysiological Effects of a Combination of Sideritis and Bacopa Extract (memoLoges<sup>®</sup>) in 32 Subjects Suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment. A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 2-Armed Study with Parallel Design

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be regarded as a non-demented transitional stage during the development of Alzheimer's disease. Early recognition of this stage might increase the chance of prevention by early treatment. Within a pilot study, two plant-derived preparations and mixtures thereof were tested successfully in subjects suffering from MCI. A combination of Sideritis scardica and Bacopa monnieri extract (memoLoges ®) was chosen now for a repetitive dosing during 4 weeks. Thirty-two subjects aged 50 to 80 years and suffering from MCI (having a DemTect questionnaire score between 8 and 13) were recruited for intake of 2 capsules of the preparation per day. Quantitative EEG recording during relaxation and concomitant performance of three 5 minutes lasting psychometric tests (d2-concentration test, arithmetic calculation test and memory test) was achieved at the first day and one day after the last repetitive intake. Seventeen channels of EEG and one channel EOG (for artefact rejection) were recorded. After frequency analysis (FFT) current source density was calculated as reported earlier. One, two and three hours after intake of the herbal extract or placebo the whole procedure was repeated. Brain imaging was achieved by conversion of numerical values of spectral EEG power into spectral colors and additive color mixture according to RGB as used in TV settings. Intake of memoLoges ® induced a trend of improvement of performance in psychometric testing (all three tests). During relaxation quantitative as-W. Dimpfel et al. 104 sessment of EEG data revealed attenuation of delta and theta spectral power in frontal brain as likewise reported in the presence of the Alzheimer drug rivastigmine, bringing the spectrum back to "normality". During mental work memoLoges ® induced statistically significant increases of beta power. Since MCI subjects produce less beta power in comparison to healthy subjects, this increase must likewise be seen as a positive effect pointing to a healthier spectrum.

<i>Ex Vivo</i> Characterization of the Action of Sideritis Extract Using Electrical Activity in the Rat Hippocampus Slice Preparation

“…This implicates that Sideritis scardica extract might be able to improve cognitive functions. At some matter of fact exactly this has been shown in a human clinical study already after a single intake of 500 mg of identical Sideritis scardica extract [10].…”

“…From all this knowledge about AMPA receptors is can be concluded that Sideritis scardica extract is able to improve cognition and mental work as well as prevent age-dependent decline of mental fitness. A recent clinical study performed in mildly cognitively impaired subjects over 4 weeks revealed a positive effect by treatment with a mixture of Sideritis scadica extract with Bacopa extract [17]. In addition to antidementive treatment also at least an add-on treatment during ischaemic stroke might be considered [18].…”

Classification of Herbal Drug Effects by Discriminant Analysis of Quantitative Human EEG Data

“…MemoLoges ® has been clinically tested in subjects suffering from mild cognitive impairment [14] [15]. A dominant feature after intake of 2 capsules memoLoges ® consisted in significant increases of alpha 1 spectral power in most of the brain areas except for the occipital lobe and parts of the frontal lobe (electrode positions F 3 and F 4 ).…”

Sideritis scardicaextracts inhibit aggregation and toxicity of amyloid-βinCaenorhabditis elegansused as a model for Alzheimer’s disease

“…S. scardica extracts were able to improve the mental performance of healthy subjects under stress conditions and of subjects suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a precursor of AD ( Behrendt et al, 2016 ; Dimpfel, Schombert & Biller, 2016b ). A double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial currently demonstrates a significant effect of a combination of S. scardica and Bacopa monnieri extract (memoLoges®) on the mental performance of subjects suffering from MCI ( Dimpfel et al, 2016c ).…”