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Probiotic supplementation improved cognitive function in cognitively impaired and healthy older adults: a systematic review of recent trials

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Abstract

Introduction

Recent evidence suggests that there is clear association between microbiota and cognitive functioning, which is known as microbiome-gut-brain axis. Probiotic bacteria consumption can alter human microbiota; therefore, probiotic supplementation might affect the gut microbiota dynamics and influence cognitive function.

Methods

Three electronic databases including PubMed, ProQuest, and EBSCOHost databases were utilized. Manual hand search of article was also done. We selected randomized controlled trial articles that measure cognitive function (as the primary outcome) after intervention with probiotic supplementation on older adult population with AD, MCI, or healthy condition. The following terms and its variant were used: “probiotic,” “cognitive function,” “mild cognitive impairment,” “dementia,” and “Alzheimer’s disease.”

Result

Nine of 10 included studies (AD, MCI, or healthy cognition population) showed cognitive function was improved significantly after probiotic supplementation, compared to control group. One study that included severe AD did not show significant changes.

Conclusion

Most studies involving AD, MCI, or healthy older adults showed cognitive improvement in subjects treated with probiotics for 12–24 weeks.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Center of Health Research, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia colleagues for their endless support and help.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jl. Pluit Raya, No. 2, Jakarta, 14440, Indonesia

    Yvonne Suzy Handajani & Yuda Turana

  2. Center of Health Research, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

    Antoninus Hengky

  3. University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Elisabeth Schröder-Butterfill

  4. Sport Exercise & Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK

    Eef Hogervorst

Authors
  1. Yvonne Suzy Handajani
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  2. Antoninus Hengky
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  3. Elisabeth Schröder-Butterfill
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  4. Eef Hogervorst
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  5. Yuda Turana
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Yvonne Suzy Handajani and Antoninus Hengky; methodology: Antoninus Hengky; literature search, formal analysis, and investigation: Antoninus Hengky; writing — original draft preparation: Yvonne Suzy Handajani and Antoninus Hengky; writing — review and editing: Eef Hogervorst, Elisabeth Schroeder-Butterfill, and Yuda Turana; supervision: Yvonne Suzy Handajani, Eef Hogervorst, and Yuda Turana.

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Correspondence to Yvonne Suzy Handajani.

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Handajani, Y.S., Hengky, A., Schröder-Butterfill, E. et al. Probiotic supplementation improved cognitive function in cognitively impaired and healthy older adults: a systematic review of recent trials. Neurol Sci 44, 1163–1169 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-06540-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-022-06540-8

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