One of the most common concerns I hear from patients over the age of 50 is declining memory. The term often used by doctors to describe this condition is age-associated memory impairment or mild cognitive impairment.
It can be very frustrating for those who have memory problems. It causes embarrassment when you lose things often, forget appointments or important events, or struggle to come up with the words you want to use in conversations.
There are several reasons why people develop memory and focus problems. While doctors often blame aging, we all know people who are very mentally sharp in their later years. Instead of blaming memory issues on aging, I think people are better served by addressing root causes that affect cognitive function. The underlying issues I look at with patients include:
A good holistic doctor can help you investigate these various causes.
There are no effective drug therapies for age-associated memory impairment. However, there is much evidence demonstrating how nutrition and brain-specific nutrients can positively impact cognitive decline due to aging.
People are often concerned with their memory problems and whether they are progressing to a form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. The National Institute on Aging has a good summary chart on the differences between “normal aging” and Alzheimer’s disease, as seen below.
Making a bad decision once in a while
Missing a monthly payment
Forgetting which day, it is and remembering it later
Sometimes forgetting which word to use
Losing things from time to time
Making poor judgments and decisions a lot of the time
Problems taking care of monthly bills
Losing track of the date or time of year
Trouble having a conversation
Misplacing things often and being unable to find them
Often the root cause(s) are not always evident, or patients need additional cognitive support. Therefore, I use a nutritional approach to be proactive with patients to achieve noticeable improvements within weeks or a few months.
I have had great results with a therapeutic amount of a natural substance called Cognizin®. The well-researched ingredient Cognizin® contains a naturally occurring nutrient found in the brain known as citicoline. This brain nutrient is recognized as a nootropic. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a nootropic is “a substance that enhances cognition and memory and facilitates learning.” This is what Cognizin® has been shown to accomplish since clinical studies show it supports mental energy, focus, and attention.
Citicoline is found in high concentrations in the brain. When one consumes citicoline, it is absorbed through the digestive system and quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier. Once in the brain, it is broken down into choline (which does not readily access the brain tissue) and acts as a building block to make phosphatidylcholine and acetylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine is vital for healthy brain cell membranes, and acetylcholine is a primary neurotransmitter (brain chemical) involved in memory and cognitive performance. Also, citicoline increases glucose metabolism in the brain, which acts as an energy source (the brain has high energy demands). In addition, research has shown that citicoline protects and regenerates brain nerve cells (neurons) from aging.
It is known that higher citicoline levels enhance brain capacity to improve concentration span, recall speed, decision-making speed, and verbal acuity. A literature review in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology noted that “supplementing with citicoline appears to be highly effective for the treatment of cognitive decline.” Also, a 2019 review of studies in the Journal of Neurology & Experimental Neuroscience involving citicoline in the treatment of cognitive impairment found that “in patients with vascular cognitive impairment, citicoline improves the cognitive function, while in patients with degenerative dementias, it is able to stop the progression of the disease.” The same authors found no serious side effects have been reported with citicoline use.
Following are some of the impressive, published studies with citicoline:
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition investigated the effects of Cognizin® on memory in a healthy elderly population with age-associated memory impairment. This study included 100 men and women aged between 50 and 85 years of age. In this high-quality double-blind study, participants were randomized to receive a placebo or Cognizin®. Their memory function was assessed at the beginning of the study and again after 12 weeks using computerized tests. Researchers found that those receiving Cognizin® had improved overall memory performance, and especially improvements in episodic memory. There were no serious adverse events experienced by those taking Cognizin®.
Another study demonstrated that citicoline significantly improved psychomotor performance compared to placebo. Psychomotor performance refers to one taking in information from their environment, and the cognitive function involved responding to the new information or stimuli. Those given citicoline also had improved working memory accuracy. Researchers also found that there was a protective antioxidant effect.
The potential benefit of citicoline was studied in 60 healthy adult women between the ages of 40 and 60. Participants received either 250 mg of citicoline, 500 mg of citicoline, or a placebo for 28 days. Those women receiving either dose of citicoline had significantly better improvement in attentional performance than those taking placebo.
The effects of citicoline extend to teenagers as well. A study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders assessed the effects of citicoline on psychomotor function and impulsivity in healthy adolescent males. Researchers found that adolescent males supplementing citicoline for 28 days had improved attention and psychomotor speed and reduced impulsivity compared to those who received a placebo.
I have found that a therapeutic dose of Cognizin® citicoline, when combined with methylcobalamin (B12), highly absorbable turmeric extract known as Meriva®, and food-based antioxidant extracts works well for a high percentage of my patients with memory and focus impairments. This formula is known as Memory Wellness and is available to the public at www.drstengler.com I have patients take 2 capsules twice daily for three months. They can maintain this dosage or reduce it to a maintenance dosage of 2 capsules once daily.
Please see my article on the Mediterranean Diet, since this well-studied diet has been shown to slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease at my America’s Natural Doctor website.
Dr. Mark Stengler NMD, MS, is a bestselling author in private practice in Encinitas, California, at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine. His newsletter, Dr. Stengler’s Health Breakthroughs, is available at www.markstengler.com and his product line at www.drstengler.com
Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI. Citicoline Improves Human Vigilance and Visual Working Memory: The Role of Neuronal Activation and Oxidative Stress. Basic Clin Neurosci. 2020;11(4):423-432. doi:10.32598/bcn.11.4.1097.1
Jasielski P, Piędel F, Piwek M, Rocka A, Petit V, Rejdak K. Application of Citicoline in Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3113. doi:10.3390/nu12103113
Memory, Forgetfulness, and Aging: What's Normal and What's Not?. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/memory-forgetfulness-and-aging-whats-normal-and-whats-not. Published 2021. Accessed September 26, 2021.
McGlade E, Locatelli A, Hardy J et al. Improved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult Women. Food Nutr Sci. 2012;03(06):769-773. doi:10.4236/fns.2012.36103
McGlade E, Agoston A, DiMuzio J et al. The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males. J Atten Disord. 2015;23(2):121-134. doi:10.1177/1087054715593633
Nakazaki E, Mah E, Sanoshy K, Citrolo D, Watanabe F. Citicoline and Memory Function in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Nutr. 2021;151(8):2153-2160. doi:10.1093/jn/nxab119
nootropic. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nootropic. Published 2021.
Secades J. Citicoline in the Treatment of Cognitive Impairment. J Neurol Exp Neurosci. 2019;05(01). doi:10.17756/jnen.2019-047
Tardner P. The use of citicoline for the treatment of cognitive decline and cognitive impairment: A meta-analysis of pharmacological. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 2020.
