Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment (Oct 2021)

Herbal Medicine for Patients with Cognitive Impairment: An Observational Study

  • Choi Y,
  • Kim AR,
  • Lee JY,
  • Kim HS,
  • Yang C,
  • Kim JK,
  • Go Y,
  • Jung IC

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 3183 – 3194

Abstract

Read online

Yujin Choi,1 Ae-Ran Kim,2 Ji-Yoon Lee,3 Hae Sook Kim,3 Changsop Yang,1 Jae Kwang Kim,4 Younghoon Go,4 In Chul Jung3 1KM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 2R&D Strategy Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 4KM Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daegu, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: In Chul JungDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University, 75 Daedeok-daero 176beon-gil, Seo-gu, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaTel +82-42-470-9129Fax +82-42-470-9005Email [email protected]: The potential effects of herbal medicine for patients with cognitive disorders have been reported in various human and animal studies. This study aimed to explore the effect of herbal medicine treatment according to the Korean Medicine (KM) pattern identification for patients with mild cognitive impairment and early dementia.Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia who planned to receive herbal medicine treatment were enrolled. Herbal formulae were prescribed based on the KM pattern for 12– 24 weeks. Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery II (SNSB-II) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were assessed at the baseline, after 12 weeks, and after 24 weeks (Trial registration: cris.nih.go.kr, KCT0004799).Results: Herbal medicine products, including Yukmijihwang-tang, Samhwangsasim-tang, Palmul-tang, Banhasasim-tang, and Yukgunja-tang, were prescribed to the patients. Among the SNSB-II five cognitive function domains, the T scores for language, visuospatial function, memory, and frontal/executive function increased over time. The MoCA score also improved following the treatment (mean difference 4.23 [95% CI: 2.60, 5.86], p < 0.0001 at 12-week follow-up compared to the baseline). Considering the KM pattern scores, phlegm-dampness and fire-heat scores tended to improve after the treatment. No serious adverse events related to the intervention were reported.Conclusion: The potential effect of herbal medicine formulae products on improving cognitive functions in patients with cognitive impairment was observed. Further research is needed to objectify the KM pattern identification process and evaluate the KM pattern-related signs and symptoms.Keywords: mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia, herbal medicine, Korean medicine, traditional east Asian medicine, observational study

Keywords