Effect Of Psychobiotic Supplementation On Cognitive Function In The Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Aging is a natural and highly complex process that modifies different organs and systems; The relationship between the gut-brain axis has been the target of interest to prevent cognitive alterations, in this context psychobiotics may be a strategy to prevent cognitive decline. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of psychobiotic supplementation on the cognitive function of physically active elderly. METHODS: Twenty physically active volunteers (F = 18, M = 2; Age:69.2 ± 5.77 yrs; Weight:64.5 ± 11.6 kg; Height:156 ± 5.12 cm; BMI:26.6 ± 4.41 kg/m2; METS:2940 ± 2421 kcal/week) were randomized in a double-blind controlled clinical trial. The placebo (PLA) group received capsules containing excipient, and the psychobiotic group (PSY) received capsules containing Lactobacillus Plantarum UBLP-40 (1x1010/UFC) and Bifidobacterium Breve UBBBr-01 (1x1010/UFC), intake daily for 12 weeks. The cognition was assessed by The Verbal Paired Associates (VPA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)c, Trail Making Test A and B test (TMT - A and TMT-B), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III) - Digit Span - Direct Order Subtest. Data was compared using Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Significance p ≤ 0.05. The protocol was approved by the UNIFESP Ethics Committee (#54754021.5.0000.5505.) RESULTS: ANCOVA analysis revealed that the VPA 3 easy trial of the PLA group reduced the score after 12 weeks (3.9 ± 0.3 vs. 3.2 ± 0.7; p < 0,003) while PSY stayed stable. Regarding 3 difficult attempts, PSY improved the score compared to PLA (1.3 ± 1.16 vs. 2.8 ± 0.06; p < 0,004); About the MMSE total score, the PSY group was higher when compared to PLA (25.7 ± 2 vs. 28.3 ± 1.8; p < 0,029) after intervention; For TMT - A and B PSY group reduced the final total time when compared to baseline (A = 71.1 ± 36.9 vs. 44.5 ± 18.9; p < 0,028) (B = 148 ± 75.5 vs. 90.4 ± 26.5; p < 0,021); Digit Span subtest PSY increased the score compared to baseline (4.5 ± 1.78 vs. 6.4 ± 2.32; p < 0,017); For MoCAc the PSY group improved when compared to the control (21.6 ± 4.55 vs. 29 ± 1.33; p < 0,001) after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Psychobiotics supplementation improves attention, short and long-term memory and may be a promising strategy for age-related cognitive decline. AFIP, CAPES (001 code) and CNPq