This Neuroprotective Compound May Slow Cognitive Decline, New Study Shows

It’s estimated that two out of three Americans1 experience some degree of cognitive impairment by the time they are 70. And not-so-obvious risk factors for poor cognition and brain health are actually measures of heart health, blood vessel (aka vascular) health, and metabolism—like high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes. 

One promising way of protecting brain health is citicoline. This nutritional ingredient is taken as a supplement, and a new study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging shows just how beneficial it may be in preventing cognitive decline2 or those already showing signs of it. 

First, we need to understand what choline is. Choline is a naturally occurring compound found in foods (like eggs, fish, soybeans, and beef). And the liver also produces small amounts of choline internally as cytidine-diphosphocholine—or CDP-choline. 

Citicoline is the supplemental form of this compound. It’s the same chemical structure, just a different name to clarify the source. 

Researchers of an in-depth review of the research on citicoline use for people with mild cognitive impairment3 or MCI—an early (but diagnosable) decline in mental abilities—concluded it consistently improved cognitive function, especially if those deficits were related to vascular health. 

Over the course of a year, 81 people with subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) or MCI and vascular risk factors took one gram of citicoline daily. Researchers used a variety of validated tests to assess a person’s cognition at the beginning and end of the study. 

At the end of the study, folks with SCC (self-reported feelings of confusion or memory loss) showed significant improvements in language and memory tests. 

And people with MCI showed significant improvements in total scores for areas like memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills4 (like buttoning a shirt or making a bed).

What’s even more impressive is that 12 people with MCI—which remember is diagnosable cognitive impairment—reverted to SCC at the end because they no longer met the criteria for MCI. 

This is another strong study showing how daily citicoline use is beneficial for brain function, especially for people already experiencing signs of memory loss or cognitive decline. Citicoline doesn’t require a prescription and many memory-supporting products contain this compound (here are our favorites). Benefits have been reported with daily use of 500 milligrams to one gram5.