Research Gist
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied a standardized whole-plant Bacopa monnieri extract in 54 healthy adults aged 65 or older, with an average age of 73.5 years and no clinical signs of dementia. After a six-week placebo run-in, participants took either 300 mg of the extract or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. The Brahmi group showed better delayed word recall than the placebo group, and Stroop test performance — a measure of attention and mental control — improved while the placebo group stayed unchanged. Depression scores, combined anxiety scores and heart rate decreased in the Brahmi group but increased in the placebo group. No differences were seen on several other tests, including a digit memory task, general mood and blood pressure. The extract was well tolerated, with mild stomach upset being the most common complaint in both groups.
Key Learnings
- Delayed word recall improved in the Brahmi group compared with placebo.
- Stroop test performance, a measure of attention and mental control, improved.
- Anxiety and low-mood scores fell in the Brahmi group while they rose with placebo.
- The extract was well tolerated, with adverse events similar to placebo.
- Not every test improved — some memory and mood measures showed no difference, and the study was limited to older adults.