Aging is a natural process that none of us can escape, but we can take proactive steps to help us continue to thrive as we age. This includes keeping our brains healthy.
Neuralli Cognition+ is a probiotic that contains clinically-studied strains shown to support healthy brain and body aging. If staying mentally sharp is a top concern of yours, read on to learn about the science that supports the use of probiotics like Neuralli Cognition+ in promoting cognitive health.
What is Neuralli Cognition+?
Neuralli Cognition+ is a healthy aging probiotic supplement that contains two clinically-studied strains: L. paracasei PS23 (20 billion CFU) and B. breve MCC1274 (20 billion CFU). This unique combination (you can’t get this blend anywhere else) is designed to support cognition, short-term memory, and leg muscle strength in aging adults. Both of these strains have been individually studied in several randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) (the gold standard for clinical efficacy research).
Let’s take a quick look at both.
MCC1274
Bifidobacterium breve is a beneficial bacteria species that is naturally found in human breast milk and in the guts of newborns and infants. One strain of B. breve, MCC1274, has been widely studied for its potential to support brain health via the gut–brain axis - a bidirectional communication system between the brain and the gut.
MCC1274 has been studied in four clinical trials with results showing memory and/or cognitive benefits in actual people your age.
An initial pilot study for its effects on cognition in aging adults gave encouraging results. This enabled researchers to design more in-depth studies first with adults over 50 who noted memory problems, and then with those experiencing mild cognitive impairments to better hone in on who and how this strain helps.
Across the studies, the scientists reported improvements in cognitive scores in the participants who received MCC1274. For example, individuals in the probiotic groups demonstrated improvements in immediate and delayed memory recall compared with placebo groups. Additionally, in one study, participants taking MCC1274 showed stable brain volume over the study period, while those with placebo did not.
Initial pilot study suggests potential cognitive benefits
In this small open-label, single arm study, a group of 19 healthy older adults took B. breve MCC1274 (20 billion CFU) daily for 24 weeks. Participants were given the 30-point Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) - a widely-used neuropsychological test used to assess cognition function, especially in older individuals.
This 10-minute screening test is often used by clinicians to assess the presence of cognitive impairment and determine if a specialist is needed. Higher scores in this test indicate favorable cognitive performance. This type of cognitive test (among others) is also used in a research setting to determine if a specific intervention can improve cognitive-related decline or impairment as compared to placebo.
In this study, the MMSE was administered once before starting the intervention, then at 8 weeks and 16 weeks, and again after completing treatment.
At the beginning of the study, all of the participants were judged to have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to the MMSE test scores (average score 24.3). At 16 and 24 weeks, the researchers reported a significant increase in the overall MMSE scores. At the conclusion of the study, 13 of the 19 participants were judged to be cognitively normal. In fact, three participants scored the maximum score (30) on the MMSE by the end of the study.
First randomized controlled trial sees memory benefits for some
After the encouraging results of the small pilot study, researchers designed a larger randomized, controlled trial (RCT) that compared MCC1274 with a placebo. This study enrolled 117 healthy older adults ages 50-80 with memory complaints.
The participants were given two standardized cognitive tests, the MMSE and the “Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status” test (RBANS). The RBANS test is a comprehensive measure than the MMSE of specific cognitive domains or functions. Then, they took either the probiotic (B. breve MCC1274, 20 billion CFU) or placebo for 12 weeks. Lastly, both groups were given the same cognitive assessment tests and scores were evaluated for change.
Upon examining the results, the researchers noticed an interesting trend amongst the people who took the probiotic. Those who initially had a low score on the MMSE showed significant improvements in the study, whereas the high-MMSE-scoring participants did not. The “low scoring” participants showed a statistically significant improvement in immediate memory scores in the RBANS test and in their total MMSE scores from week 0 to week 12, as compared to the placebo group.
These findings prompted the researchers to develop the following study that included only participants who initially scored low on the standardized cognitive test.
2020 RCT: More cognitive benefits for those with more memory problems
In this randomized controlled trial, scientists observed the cognitive effects of B. breve MCC1274 in healthy adults who were experiencing problems with their memory. The researchers specifically recruited older individuals with lower cognitive test scores based on results from the previous study.
Over a period of 16 weeks, 79 healthy adults aged 50-79 were given either the probiotic strain (MCC1274, 20 billion CFU) or placebo. Before and after the trial, cognitive functions were assessed using the RBANS and the Japanese version of the mild cognitive impairment screen (JMCIS) tests. These tests allowed for a more thorough investigation of the types of cognitive improvements experienced by study participants.
At the end of the study, significant improvements in the RBANS scores were reported in the following cognitive domains:
- Immediate memory - A type of short-term memory that helps you to hold information in your mind for a few seconds. You use immediate memory to remember a street address or telephone number - but it may quickly be forgotten right after you use it.
- Visuospatial/constructional - This cognitive ability allows us to identify, integrate, and analyze space and visual form. You use visuospatial construction when you make your bed, draw, button your shirt, or construct a model.
- Delayed memory (or recall) - A type of episodic memory that is a reflection of your ability to recall information after being distracted. In this test, participants were asked to recall the words, stories, and figures from tasks they had completed earlier in the test.
MCC1274 helps maintain brain volume
In another study, additional measures of brain and cognitive health were assessed compared with placebo. 115 participants (ages 65-88) with suspected mild cognitive impairment were given either B. breve MCC1274 (20 billion CFU) or placebo once daily for 24 weeks. All patients were assessed for cognitive function (MMSE and ADAS-Jcog) at day 0 and again at 24 weeks. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the beginning and end of the study to see if MCC1274 might prevent brain shrinkage.
The results showed significant improvement in the orientation subscale of the ADAS-Jcog in the probiotic group as compared to placebo. Significant improvements were also observed in the “orientation in time” and “writing” MMSE subscales for the participants who scored low on the MMSE at baseline as compared to placebo. This finding parallels similar trends in previous studies with MCC1274.
Interestingly, the scientists reported that brain volume didn't change in the probiotic group, whereas the placebo group showed signs of shrinkage, or brain atrophy.
Overall, these findings suggest that MCC1274 may help support cognitive health, including improving short-term memory performance, and help maintain brain volume in older adults.*
PS23TM
PS23 can be thought of as the “+” in Cognition+. While MCC1274 has been shown to help improve certain aspects of cognition like short term memory, studies of PS23 suggest it helps with other aspects of healthy aging, including sleep and leg strength. Here are the details.
PS23 - leg strength and endurance over 65
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 66 participants between the ages of 65 and 85 received either a live-strain probiotic (L. paracasei PS23, 20 billion CFU) or placebo for 12 weeks. The participants underwent several functional tests during the study that assessed several aspects of physical health (i.e., physical fitness, agility, balance, walking, strength etc.). These tests were given once before the groups started taking the probiotic or placebo and then again at 6 and 12 weeks.
For example, in the “chair-stand” test, participants were asked to sit down and get up from a chair repeatedly for 30 seconds with their arms crossed, to measure their lower limb strength and endurance. And, in the timed up-and-go test, the participants were asked to stand up, walk around an obstacle, and then sit down, two times, while being timed. This test assessed dynamic balance and agility.
The participants who took live PS23 showed improvement, while no significant changes were reported for the placebo group. Results for the PS23-takers included:
- Increased lower limb strength and endurance (chair-stand test) at 12 weeks
- Improved agility and dynamic balance (timed up-and-go test) at 6 and 12 weeks
The benefits for PS23 on leg strength in people over 65 parallel results found in another PS23 study of physically active people aged 20-40 years old. In this RCT, researchers found that live PS23 improved muscle strength and recovery after intense physical activity.
PS23 and sleep
In this double-blind study, 45 office workers aged 20-65 who reported moderate to high levels of perceived stress were randomly assigned to a probiotic or a placebo group. Before the study began, all participants were given a series of assessments - including a self-reporting measure of sleep-related issues (i.e., difficulty falling asleep). Then, for six weeks, the participants in the probiotic group took a daily dose of 20 billion CFU of live L. paracasei PS23, while the control group took identically-looking placebo capsules.
In the PS23 group, the researchers reported improved sleep latency (time to fall asleep) and sleep maintenance (staying asleep) after six weeks of taking the probiotic. The participants in the PS23 group also reported less insomnia-like symptoms as compared to the placebo group at the end of the study.
In summary, the two healthy-aging strains in Neuralli Cognition+ are backed by seven clinical research studies with reported benefits for leg muscle strength, short term memory, and cognitive function in healthy adults.*
