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58/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 58 out of 100. Treatments

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

In mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer disease (AD), also known as prodromal AD, there is evidence for a pathologic shortage of uridine, choline, and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]), which are key nutrients needed by the brain. Preclinical and clinical evidence shows the importance of nutrient bioavailability to support the development and maintenance of brain structure and function in MCI and AD. Availability of key nutrients is limited in MCI, creating a distinct nutritional need for uridine, choline, and DHA. Evidence suggests that metabolic derangements associated with ageing and disease-related pathology can affect the body's ability to generate and utilize nutrients. This is reflected in lower levels of nutrients measured in the plasma and brains of individuals with MCI and AD dementia, and progressive loss of cognitive performance. The uridine shortage cannot be corrected by normal diet, making uridine a conditionally essential nutrient in affected individuals. It is also challenging to correct the choline shortfall through diet alone, because brain uptake from the plasma significantly decreases with ageing. There is no strong evidence to support the use of single-agent supplements in the management of MCI due to AD. As uridine and choline work synergistically with DHA to increase phosphatidylcholine formation, there is a compelling rationale to combine these nutrients. A multinutrient enriched with uridine, choline, and DHA developed to support brain function has been evaluated in randomized controlled trials covering a spectrum of dementia from MCI to moderate AD. A randomized controlled trial in subjects with prodromal AD showed that multinutrient intervention slowed brain atrophy and improved some measures of cognition. Based on the available clinical evidence, nutritional intervention should be considered as a part of the approach to the management of individuals with MCI due to AD, including adherence to a healthy, balanced diet, and consideration of evidence-based multinutrient supplements.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Baumel, B. S., Doraiswamy, P. M., Sabbagh, M., & Wurtman, R. (2021). Potential Neuroregenerative and Neuroprotective Effects of Uridine/Choline-Enriched Multinutrient Dietary Intervention for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review. Neurology and therapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-020-00227-y

Vancouver

Baumel BS, Doraiswamy PM, Sabbagh M, Wurtman R. Potential Neuroregenerative and Neuroprotective Effects of Uridine/Choline-Enriched Multinutrient Dietary Intervention for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review. Neurology and therapy. 2021. doi:10.1007/s40120-020-00227-y. PMID: 33368017.

BibTeX

@article{baumel2021-33368017,
  author  = {Baumel, B. S. and Doraiswamy, P. M. and Sabbagh, M. and Wurtman, R.},
  title   = {{Potential Neuroregenerative and Neuroprotective Effects of Uridine/Choline-Enriched Multinutrient Dietary Intervention for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review}},
  journal = {Neurology and therapy},
  year    = {2021},
  doi     = {10.1007/s40120-020-00227-y},
  pmid    = {33368017},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-020-00227-y}
}

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Key findings

Evidence suggests that metabolic derangements associated with ageing and disease-related pathology can affect the body's ability to generate and utilize nutrients.
It is also challenging to correct the choline shortfall through diet alone, because brain uptake from the plasma significantly decreases with ageing.
A randomized controlled trial in subjects with prodromal AD showed that multinutrient intervention slowed brain atrophy and improved some measures of cognition.

Why it matters

This narrative review argues that people with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease may lack uridine, choline, and DHA, and that combining these nutrients is worth studying. It cites one randomized trial in prodromal Alzheimer's disease in which a multinutrient intervention slowed brain atrophy and improved some cognition measures, but this is a review, not proof of a cure or prevention.

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Study details

Study designrandomized controlled trial
Evidence strengthHigh

How this study scored 58/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurology and therapy)
Journal's citation record	0 / 4	Neurology and Therapy: journal h-index 57 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	11 / 12	A randomised controlled trial
Strength of evidence	5 / 5	Rated “high” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	3 / 5	2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	0 / 4	Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	0 / 3	Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Randomised / blinded	1 / 2	Randomised (as stated in the record)
Times cited	3 / 7	Cited 35 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	2 / 5	5.0 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021
Impact for its field and year	1 / 6	Cited 0.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	2 / 4	Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author Richard Jay Wurtman: h-index 100 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	3 / 3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology: institution h-index 2,557 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33368017)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	58 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

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