Effects of Ganglioside on Working Memory and the Default Mode Network in Individuals with Subjective Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined whether the administration of ganglioside, an active ingredient of deer bone extract, can improve working memory performance by increasing gray matter volume and functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) in individuals with subjective cognitive impairment. Seventy-five individuals with subjective cognitive impairment were chosen to receive either ganglioside (330[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/day or 660[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/day) or a placebo for 8 weeks. Changes in working memory performance with treatment of either ganglioside or placebo were assessed as cognitive outcome measures. Using voxel-based morphometry and functional connectivity analyses, changes in gray matter volume and functional connectivity in the DMN were also assessed as brain outcome measures. Improvement in working memory performance was greater in the ganglioside group than in the placebo group. The ganglioside group, relative to the placebo group, showed greater increases in gray matter volume and functional connectivity in the DMN. A significant relationship between increased functional connectivity of the precuneus and improved working memory performance was observed in the ganglioside group. The current findings suggest that ganglioside has cognitive-enhancing effects in individuals with subjective cognitive impairment. Ganglioside-induced increases in gray matter volume and functional connectivity in the DMN may partly be responsible for the potential nootropic effects of ganglioside. The clinical trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT02379481).
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.
Yujin
Y
Jeon
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.
Binna
B
Kim
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.|† Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, South Korea.
Jieun E
JE
Kim
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.|† Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, South Korea.
Bori R
BR
Kim
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.|† Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, South Korea.
Soonhyun
S
Ban
¶ Department of Neurology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Jee Hyang
JH
Jeong
‡ Department of Nutritional Science & Food Management, College of Health Sciences, South Korea.
Oran
O
Kwon
§ College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
Sandy Jeong
SJ
Rhie
∥ Research and Development Center, Nong Shim Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea.
Chang-Won
CW
Ahn
∥ Research and Development Center, Nong Shim Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea.
Jong-Hoon
JH
Kim
∥ Research and Development Center, Nong Shim Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea.
Sung Ug
SU
Jung
∥ Research and Development Center, Nong Shim Co., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea.
Soo-Hyun
SH
Park
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.|† Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, South Korea.|§ College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
In Kyoon
IK
Lyoo
* Ewha Brain Institute, South Korea.|† Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, South Korea.
Sujung
S
Yoon
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003670:Deer; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005732:Gangliosides; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D014020:Tissue Extracts
Deer Bone Extract; Default Mode Network; Ganglioside; Subjective Cognitive Impairment; Working Memory