Background: Memory deficits and age-related memory loss are currently two significant concerns in older adults. In Iranian herbal medicine, there are some prescriptions for memory improvement.
Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of tablet containing Boswellia serrata (BS) extract and Mellisa officinalis (MO) extract on memory of the older adults.
Method: This is a randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that performed among 70 older adults who referred to healthcare centers of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either tablets (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35) for a month (n = 30). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent-samples t-tests, paired t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and ANCOVA using SPSS v13.
Result: Participants' baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The study was completed by 53 participants. However, as the analysis was based on an intention-to treat approach, all 70 older adults were included in the final analysis. Comparison of the two groups with showed that the total scores of the WMS-R and the subscales, including auditory immediate, immediate memory, visual immediate and working memory, were increased after consumption of the containing BS and MO tablets (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: The BS and MO tablet in older adults can be beneficial on improvement of memory. This is still necessary to investigate effects and durability of the tablets on older adults with memory impairments in future studies.
Keywords: Boswellia serrata; Mellisa officinalis; Memory; Older adult.
Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.