Chinese herbal medicine offers hope for memory loss, trial shows

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A world-first clinical trial in Australia has found that Sailuotong (SLT), a Chinese herbal medicine compound, can significantly improve memory and executive functions in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Key findings: The trial, led by researchers at Western Sydney University, found that participants who received 180 milligrams of SLT per day for a period of 12 weeks demonstrated improvements in certain memory and executive functions — including delayed episodic memory retrieval, switching between cognitive concepts, higher-level divided attention and multitasking — compared to those who received a placebo.

Additionally, SLT was found to be well-tolerated, with researchers noting a low incidence of mild or moderate adverse events.

About SLT: SLT, which comes in capsules, is a Chinese herbal medicine containing standardized extracts of Panax ginseng, Ginkgo biloba and saffron (Crocus sativus L.). This unique preparation was co-developed and tested for over 15 years by researchers at Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute and Xiyuan Hospital at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing.

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SLT has shown promise in addressing various aspects of MCI through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic and cholinergic-enhancing properties. Previous studies also showed its potential cognitive benefits in vascular dementia and neurocognition in healthy adults.

What’s Next: The trial, which was in phase 2, included 78 participants aged 60 or older and diagnosed with MCI. The researchers hope to conduct another trial with a larger sample size and longer treatment period with different doses, ultimately to ascertain SLT’s long-term efficiency in managing cognitive impairment and preventing dementia.

The trial’s results were published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, a journal of the Illinois-based nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association.

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