An extract of Salvia (sage) with anticholinesterase properties improves memory and attention in healthy older volunteers

Andrew Scholey, Nicola Tildesley, Clive Ballard, Keith Wesnes, Andrea Tasker, Elaine Perry, David Kennedy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

132 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

RationaleSpecies of Salvia (sage) have a long-standing reputation in European medical herbalism, including for memory enhancement. In recent controlled trials, administration of sage extracts with established cholinergic properties improved cognitive function in young adults.ObjectivesThis randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, balanced, five-period crossover study investigated the acute effects on cognitive performance of a standardised extract of Salvia officinalis in older adults.Materials and methodsTwenty volunteers (>65 years of age, mean = 72.95) received four active doses of extract (167, 333, 666 and 1332 mg) and a placebo with a 7-day wash-out period between visits. Assessment involved completion of the Cognitive Drug Research computerised assessment battery. On study days, treatments were administered immediately following a baseline assessment with further assessment at 1, 2.5, 4 and 6 h post treatment.ResultsCompared with the placebo condition (which exhibited the characteristic performance decline over the day), the 333-mg dose was associated with significant enhancement of secondary memory performance at all testing times. The same measure benefited to a lesser extent from other doses. There also were significant improvements to accuracy of attention following the 333-mg dose. In vitro analysis confirmed cholinesterase inhibiting properties for the extract.ConclusionsThe overall pattern of results is consistent with a dose-related benefit to processes involved in efficient stimulus processing and/or memory consolidation rather than retrieval or working memory efficiency. These findings extend those of the memory-enhancing effects of Salvia extracts in younger populations and warrant further investigation in larger series, in other populations and with different dosing regimes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)127-139
JournalPsychopharmacology
Volume198
Issue number1
Early online date19 Mar 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2008

Keywords

  • Salvia
  • Sage
  • Cognition
  • Memory
  • Cognitive decline
  • Acetylcholine
  • Cholinesterase
  • Attention
  • Age-related memory decline
  • Alzheimer’s disease

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