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. 2008 Apr;49(4):379-85.

Improvement of short-term memory performance in aged beagles by a nutraceutical supplement containing phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine

Joseph A Araujo  1 , Gary M Landsberg, Norton W Milgram, Alda Miolo
Affiliations

Improvement of short-term memory performance in aged beagles by a nutraceutical supplement containing phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine

Joseph A Araujo et al. Can Vet J. 2008 Apr.

Abstract
in English, French

Aged dogs demonstrate cognitive decline that is linked to brain aging. The purpose of the present study was to examine if a commercially available nutraceutical supplement that may be neuroprotective and contains phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine could improve cognitive function in aged beagles. Nine aged beagles were tested on performance on a delayed-non-matching-to-position task, which is a neuropsychological test of short-term visuospatial memory. All subjects were tested on 5 baseline sessions; then, to assess the supplement, a crossover design was used in which 1 group received the supplement and the other a control substance in the 1st phase, with treatment conditions being reversed in the 2nd phase. Performance accuracy was significantly improved in supplemented dogs compared with control dogs and the effect was long lasting. These findings suggest that the nutraceutical supplement can improve memory in aged dogs.

Amélioration de la performance de la mémoire à court terme chez des Beagle âgés par un supplément nutraceutique contenant de la phosphatidylsérine, du Ginkgo biloba, de la vitamine E et de la pyridoxine. Les chiens âgés démontrent un déclin cognitif qui est lié au vieillissement du cerveau. La présente étude avait pour but d’examiner si un supplément nutraceutique disponible dans le commerce, qui peut fournir une neuroprotection et contient de la phosphatidylsérine, du Ginkgo biloba, de la vitamine E et de la pyridoxine, pourrait améliorer la fonction cognitive chez des Beagle âgés. Neuf Beagle âgés ont été évalués pour leur performance lors d’une tâche d’appariement différé sans correspondance, qui est un test neuropsychologique de la mémoire visuospatiale à court terme. Tous les sujets ont été testés en fonction de 5 séances de référence; puis, pour évaluer le supplément, un schéma croisé a été utilisé selon lequel un groupe a reçu le supplément et l’autre une substance contrôlée dans la première phase, avec renversement des conditions de traitement dans la deuxième phase. La performance a été significativement améliorée chez les chiens ayant pris le supplément comparativement aux chiens témoins et l’effet a été de longue durée. Ces constatations suggèrent que le supplément nutraceutique peut améliorer la mémoire chez les chiens âgés.

(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean performance across delays. Subject’s performance was significantly more accurate on the supplement (triangle) compared with the baseline (circle). No difference between control (square) performance and other conditions were found. The supplement contained phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine in a meatball. The control was only a meatball and the baseline consisted of no treatment and was used to group the dogs into 2 groups of similar DNMP performance levels. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean performance accuracy by treatment and order. Subjects receiving control (black bars) followed by the supplement (white bars) showed a significant increase in performance accuracy over on the last 5 DNMP sessions. By contrast, animals that received the supplement prior to control did not show a significant increase in performance despite the additional practice. The supplement contained phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine in a meatball. The control was only a meatball. The 1st phase represents the treatment provided before the crossover and the 2nd phase represents the treatment conditions after crossover. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean performance accuracy over the 3 phases of the study in subjects that received the supplement (phase 1) before control (phase 2). Subjects receiving the supplement before control showed an increase in performance accuracy compared to baseline while under the supplement that was maintained during control. The supplement contained phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine in a meatball. The control was only a meatball. The 1st phase represents the treatment provided before the crossover and the 2nd phase represents the treatment conditions after crossover. Error bars represent standard error of the mean.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mean performance accuracy over the 3 phases of the study in subjects that received the control (phase 1) before supplement (phase 2). Subjects receiving the supplement after control showed an increase in performance accuracy only while on the supplement. The supplement contained phosphatidylserine, Ginkgo biloba, vitamin E, and pyridoxine in a meatball. The control was only a meatball. The 1st phase represents the treatment provided before the crossover and the 2nd phase represents the treatment conditions after crossover. Error bars represent standard error of mean.
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