Silibinin Improves the Clinical Scores of Memory Function in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Abstract

The aim of pharmacotherapy for moderate cognitive impairment (MCI) is to reduce the present clinical signs and delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is currently no viable pharmacological therapy for the treatment of AD. Early intake of nutraceuticals, on the other hand, may help to alleviate and delay MCI. The goal of this study was to see how silibinin (SIL) supplementation affected cognitive function in older people with memory problems. A total of 85 subjects with memory impairment were randomly assigned to one of two groups: SIL (n = 42) supplied with 250 mg twice daily, or placebo (n = 43) for 16 weeks. A computerized neurocognitive function test was used to assess cognitive function (CNT). When comparing the SIL group to the placebo group, the "verbal learning test index" items of the CNT were significantly improved in the SIL arm (P < 0.05). Supplementing older people with memory impairment with SIL for 16 weeks appears to have a positive impact on their state of "verbal memory." Further studies are highly recommended.