A systematic review of the clinical use of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction
Ng QX, Loke W, Foo NX, Tan WJ, Chan HW, Lim DY, Yeo WS
Phytotherapy research : PTR · 43 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Systematic review (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2019-11-19 · Phytother Res · vol. 34 · issue 3 · pp. 583–590
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Cited
- 77 citations · more than 92% of similar papers · 2.8× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 36 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants · Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
- Keywords
- Withania somnifera, Dementia, Medicine, Schizoaffective disorder, Population, Cognition, Cognitive decline, Psychiatry, Randomized controlled trial, Schizophrenia (object-oriented programming), Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Systematic review, MEDLINE, Psychosis, Alternative medicine, Cognitive impairment, Surgery, Internal medicine, Disease, Biology, Pathology
- MeSH
- humans, withania, dementia, plant extracts, medicine, ayurvedic, cognition, memory, aged, aged, 80 and over, randomized controlled trials as topic, cognitive dysfunction
7 authors
From SG
- Qin Xiang Ng · correspondingInstitute of Mental Health; MOH Holdings
- Wayren LokeMOH Holdings
- Nadine Xinhui FooMOH Holdings
- Weng Jun TanInstitute of Mental Health; MOH Holdings
- Hwei Wuen ChanNational University of Singapore; National University Hospital; National University Health System
- Donovan Yutong LimNational University of Singapore; Institute of Mental Health
Abstract
Many developed countries are experiencing a rapidly "greying" population, and cognitive decline is common in the elderly. There is no cure for dementia, and pharmacotherapy options to treat cognitive dysfunction provide limited symptomatic improvements. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), a popular herb highly valued in Ayurvedic medicine, has often been used to aid memory and cognition. This systematic review thus aimed to evaluate the clinical evidence base and investigate the potential role of W. somnifera in managing cognitive dysfunction. Using the following keywords [withania somnifera OR indian ginseng OR Ashwagandha OR winter cherry] AND [brain OR cognit* OR mental OR dementia OR memory], a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and Clinicaltrials.gov databases found five clinical studies that met the study's eligibility criteria. Overall, there is some early clinical evidence, in the form of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials, to support the cognitive benefits of W. somnifera supplementation. However, a rather heterogeneous study population was sampled, including older adults with mild cognitive impairment and adults with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder. In most instances, W. somnifera extract improved performance on cognitive tasks, executive function, attention, and reaction time. It also appears to be well tolerated, with good adherence and minimal side effects.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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