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Title The Impact of LGG Probiotic Supplement on Cognition in Middle-Age and Older Adults: Pilot Study |
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Type Poster Presentation |
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Theme Probiotics and Prebiotics: Excellence in Science and Clinical Translation |
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Topic Probiotic and Prebiotic Clinical Research, From Newborns to Elderly |
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Main Author Victoria Sanborn1 |
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Presenting Author Victoria Sanborn1 |
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Co-Author M. Andrea Azcarate-Peril2 John Gunstad1 |
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Department / Institution / Country Psychological Sciences / Kent State University / United States1 Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and Microbiome Core Facility, C / University of North Carolina / United States2 |
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Background and Rationale Studies show that composition of the gut microbiome is associated with cognitive function in healthy adults and that probiotic supplementation is associated with better cognitive function in animal models and persons with HIV-1. Such findings raise the possibility that supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) may also improve cognitive function in healthy middle-age and older adults. We hypothesized that individuals who received LGG would show improvements in cognitive function. |
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Objectives: Indicates the purpose of the study We examined whether providing LGG probiotic supplementation in middle- and older-adults improves cognitive functioning. |
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Methodology: Describe pertinent experimental procedures Twenty healthy middle- and older-adults (Mage = 64.54; 47.5% male) were recruited from the local community. Exclusion criteria included history of/current neurological disorder or significant gastrointestinal illness or surgery. Participants were instructed to ingest 2 capsules each day for 90 days. Cognitive function was assessed using NIH Toolbox, known to have minimal practice effects. An age-corrected composite score of cognitive functioning was created through performance on the following tests: Picture Sequence Memory Test, Dimensional Change Card Sort Test, Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test, List Sorting Working Memory Test, and Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test. Repeated Measures ANOVA determined changes in scores over time. |
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Results: Summarize the results of the research Repeated measures ANOVA showed that age-corrected composite cognition t-score significantly improved from baseline to follow-up in persons taking LGG [F(1,19) = 30.22, p < .01; Mbaseline=99.38 +/-16.41, Mfollowup=107.13 +/- 16.88]. Follow-up analyses to identify the specific subtests revealed that much of this effect was driven by improvements in Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test [F(1,19) = 9.07, p < .05; Mbaseline=94.45 +/-18.32, Mfollowup=104.45 +/-20.21]. |
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Conclusions: State the main conclusions This pilot study suggests that LGG supplementation may have cognitive benefits, particularly concerning attention and processing speed, for neurologically-healthy middle-age and older adults. Future studies should clarify this possibility through a placebo-controlled comparison and examine possible mechanisms, especially composition of the gut microbiome and indices of glycemic control and inflammation. |