P28. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Natural Polyphenol Blend in Adults With Sleep Complaints and Impact on Neurocognition

Introduction: Approximately one third of adults report insomnia symptoms, which are associated with adverse psychological and functional outcomes. Unfortunately, few over-the-counter sleep aids have demonstrated efficacy in controlled trials, and those that improve sleep usually also cause sedation and impaired daytime function. Objective: This study investigated whether an over-the-counter polyphenol botanical blend (PBB) could improve sleep without compromising neurocognition. Methods: We conducted a 30-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 88 adults. Sleep was measured by diaries, actigraphy, and questionnaires, while neurocognitive functioning was assessed using a Motor Praxis Task (motor speed), Visual Object Learning Task (visual learning), N-back (working memory), Abstract Matching (abstraction), Line Orientation Task (spatial orientation), Digital Symbol Substitution Task (visual tracking), Balloon Analog Risk Task (risk decision making), and the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (vigilant attention). Analyses tested group, time, and group-by-time effects using linear mixed effects models. Results: PBB improved sleep quality (p<0.05) and insomnia symptoms (p<0.05) while reducing attentional lapses (p<0.05) and response times (p<0.01). PBB did not deteriorate neurocognition and improved N-back sensitivity (p<0.05) and accuracy (p<0.05), reduced Line Orientation Task errors (p<0.05) and increase mean pumps on the BART (p<0.01), versus placebo. Conclusion: The PBB improved sleep quality, reduced insomnia symptoms, and improved sustained attention without neurocognitive compromise. This is in contrast to most sleep aids that cause sedation at the expense of cognition. This suggests an opportunity for botanicals to improve sleep in those with sleep complaints but not sleep disorders.