Abstract
Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of propolis on cognitive function in elderly Japanese with a placebo-controlled design. Material and Methods. This study was performed on 79 elderly Japanese. Participants orally received either a placebo or dietary supplement containing propolis extract for 24 weeks. Cognitive function assessed by Cognitrax and various blood or urine markers were measured at pre- and postadministration. Results and Conclusion. Eligible data from 68 subjects (placebo: 33, propolis: 35) who completed the study were analyzed. Compared to the placebo group, the propolis group showed significant improvement in verbal memory in Cognitrax (P=0.028). Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid were significantly improved in the propolis group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.011, P = 0.004, P = 0.048, P = 0.045, and P = 0.005, respectively). However, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid fluctuated within the normal level. Furthermore, a subgroup analysis was performed on those with higher than 100 of the standardized score of the neurocognitive index indicated by the overall Cognitrax score. Significant improvements in the propolis group compared to placebo were confirmed in verbal memory (P = 0.007) and processing speed as indications for information processing ability, complex attention, and concentration (P = 0.029). No side effects were observed in any of the groups. This study demonstrates that propolis is effective in improving cognitive functions such as memory, information processing, complex attention, and concentration in elderly Japanese.
Highlights
In Japan, where the population is aging, the number of patients with dementia continues to increase. e number of dementia patients is estimated at about 4.4 million as of 2010, and the number of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a predementia, will be about 3.8 million [1]
Propolis has been reported to improve cognitive function in the elderly living in the Tibetan Plateau, China, which is prone to the development of dementia due to a hypoxic environment [11]
8 subjects were excluded from analysis due to the following reasons: (1) Liver markers such as AST and ALT are related to cognitive function [18]
Summary
In Japan, where the population is aging, the number of patients with dementia continues to increase. e number of dementia patients is estimated at about 4.4 million as of 2010, and the number of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is a predementia, will be about 3.8 million [1]. In Japan, where the population is aging, the number of patients with dementia continues to increase. The number of dementia patients in Japan is estimated at about 6.5 to 7 million in 2025 and about 8 to 9 million in 2040, which is a major social problem [3]. In many cases of dementia, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine the main cause has not been completely clarified yet, but agerelated cognitive decline involves multiple factors, including inflammation [5, 6], oxidative stress [7], neurotransmitter decline [8], and beta-amyloid accumulation [9]. Erefore, improving these multiple factors is considered important for maintaining and improving cognitive function. The effect of propolis on cognitive function has not been verified at the normal altitude where the Japanese live
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