title: Randomized controlled trial of standardized Bacopa monniera extract in age-associated memory impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) is a traditional Indian medicinal plant which causes multiple effects on the central nervous system. The standardized extract of this plant has shown enhanced behavioural learning in preclinical studies and enhanced information processing in healthy volunteers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of standardized Bacopa monniera extract (SBME) in subjects with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI) without any evidence of dementia or psychiatric disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study design was employed. The subjects received either 125 mg of SBME or placebo twice a day for a period of 12 weeks followed by a placebo period of another 4 weeks (total duration of the trial 16 weeks). Each subject was evaluated for cognition on a battery of tests comprising mental control, logical memory, digit forward, digit backward, visual reproduction and paired associate learning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SBME produced significant improvement on mental control, logical memory and paired associated learning during the 12-week drug therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SBME is efficacious in subjects with age-associated memory impairment.
authors: Senior Medical Officer, Peninsula Community Mental Health Service, Frankston Hospital, Frankston, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Sangeeta
authors: S
authors: Raghav
authors: Harjeet
authors: H
authors: Singh
authors: P K
authors: PK
authors: Dalal
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Srivastava
authors: O P
authors: OP
authors: Asthana