Evaluating the effects of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive performance and sleep quality of patients with mild cognitive impairment: A triple-blinded clinical trial

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment is the middle level of natural cognitive impairment during primary steps of dementia. There are a few studies about improving the cognitive performance and sleep quality in patients with a limited dementia. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive performance and sleep quality of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Materials and methods: In this study, ۶۲ patients with mild cognitive impairment were categorized into two groups of control and intervention. The intervention group received one pill of ۱۶۰ mg Bacopa monnieri extract in ۲ months, and the control group received a pill containing starch powder. The cognitive impairment and sleep quality was assessed using a questionnaire containing demographic information, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index in three time-points of before the study, one months after the intervention and ۲ months after the intervention (the end of study). Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference between two groups in all three time-points in overall cognitive performance score and its ۶ parameters (P>۰.۰۵). While in the field of attention at the end of the first month (P=۰.۰۳۳) and the end of the second month (P=۰.۰۰۴), it was significant difference between the study groups. Also, in the field of verbal fluency at the end of the second month, this difference was significant (P=۰.۰۰۳). The cognitive performance overall score showed no significant difference between two groups in first (P=۰.۹۳۹) and second time-points (P= ۰.۶۶۱), although it was significant at third time-point (P= ۰.۰۲۹). There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in all time-points for sleep quality overall score (P>۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The results showed that Bacopa monnieri can improve the cognitive performance overall score and some of its parameters, but it had no effect on sleep quality.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bacopa monnieri ، cognitive performance ، mild cognitive impairment ، herbal medicine ، sleep quality