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Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Function and Preventing Brain Atrophy in Older Patients with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a 24-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Asaoka D, Xiao J, Takeda T, Yanagisawa N, Yamazaki T, Matsubara Y, Sugiyama H, Endo N et al.. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2022-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Probiotics have been reported to ameliorate cognitive impairment. Objective We investigated the effect of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 (A1) in enhancing cognition and preventing brain atrophy of older patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods In this RCT, 130 patients aged from 65 to 88 years old with suspected MCI received once daily either probiotic (B. breve MCC1274, 2×1010 CFU) or placebo for 24 weeks. Cognitive functions were assessed by ADAS-Jcog and MMSE tests. Participants underwent MRI to determine brain atrophy changes using Voxel-based Specific Regional Analysis System for Alzheimer's disease (VSRAD). Fecal samples were collected for the analysis of gut microbiota composition. Results Analysis was performed on 115 participants as the full analysis set (probiotic 55, placebo 60). ADAS-Jcog subscale "orientation" was significantly improved compared to placebo at 24 weeks. MMSE subscales "orientation in time" and "writing" were significantly improved compared to placebo in the lower baseline MMSE ( Conclusion Improvement of cognitive function was observed on some subscales scores only likely due to the lower sensitiveness of these tests for MCI subjects. Probiotics consumption for 24 weeks suppressed brain atrophy progression, suggesting that B. breve MCC1274 helps prevent cognitive impairment of MCI subjects.
Key findings
- Results Analysis was performed on 115 participants as the full analysis set (probiotic 55, placebo 60).
- ADAS-Jcog subscale "orientation" was significantly improved compared to placebo at 24 weeks.
- MMSE subscales "orientation in time" and "writing" were significantly improved compared to placebo in the lower baseline MMSE ( Conclusion Improvement of cognitive function was observed on some subscales scores only likely due to the lower sensitiveness of these tests for MCI subjects.
- Probiotics consumption for 24 weeks suppressed brain atrophy progression, suggesting that B. breve MCC1274 helps prevent cognitive impairment of MCI subjects.
Why it matters
In this 24-week trial, the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 improved scores on some cognitive subscales and suppressed brain atrophy progression in older patients with suspected mild cognitive impairment. The cognitive improvements were seen only on certain subscales, which the authors suggest may be due to the limited sensitivity of the tests used for this population.
Study details
- Participants130
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 68/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 130 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 156 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 26.0 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 129 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Nobuhiro Sato: h-index 52 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Juntendo University: institution h-index 530 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35570493) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 68 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3233/jad-220148
- PubMed: 35570493
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Alzheimer s Disease →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Asaoka, D., Xiao, J., Takeda, T., Yanagisawa, N., Yamazaki, T., Matsubara, Y., et al. (2022). Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Function and Preventing Brain Atrophy in Older Patients with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a 24-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-220148
Vancouver
Asaoka D, Xiao J, Takeda T, Yanagisawa N, Yamazaki T, Matsubara Y, et al. Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Function and Preventing Brain Atrophy in Older Patients with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a 24-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2022. doi:10.3233/jad-220148. PMID: 35570493.
BibTeX
@article{asaoka2022-35570493,
author = {Asaoka, D. and Xiao, J. and Takeda, T. and Yanagisawa, N. and Yamazaki, T. and Matsubara, Y. and Sugiyama, H. and Endo, N. and others},
title = {{Effect of Probiotic Bifidobacterium breve in Improving Cognitive Function and Preventing Brain Atrophy in Older Patients with Suspected Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results of a 24-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.3233/jad-220148},
pmid = {35570493},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-220148}
}
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