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Home › Conditions › Cognitive Dysfunction

Cognitive Dysfunction

Subtypes of Cognitive Dysfunction

Mild Cognitive Impairment 90 Cognitive Decline 17 Postoperative cognitive dysfunction 8 Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment 4 Postoperative cognitive complications 1

118 published articles · Updated continuously

Clinical Trial Landscape

Clinical Trials for Cognitive Dysfunction

21 trials tracked for Cognitive Dysfunction: 3 in phase 3 or 4 and 1 with published results. The most-cited published study has 23 citations.

21Trials tracked
3Phase 3 & 4
0Recruiting
1With published results
Phase distribution
Phase 4 1 Phase 3 2 Phase 2 5 Phase 1 1 Other / NA 12
  1. Phase 3 Phase 3 Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial of Donepezil Completed · 23 cited
  2. Phase 4 Effect of Intraoperative Dexmedetomidine on Early Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Completed
  3. Phase 3 Renew NCP-5 for the Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment Due to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or Mild Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type Completed
  4. Phase 2 A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of SAGE-718 in Participants With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Mild Dementia Due to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Completed
  5. Phase 2 A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of SAGE-718 in Participants With Parkinson's Disease Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) Completed
  6. Phase 2 A Study to Evaluate the Effects of SAGE-718 in Participants With Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Impairment Completed
Show 15 more trials
  1. Phase 2 Improving Cognitive Health in COVID-19 Survivors Completed
  2. Phase 2 N-acetylcysteine and NMDA Antagonist Interactions Completed
  3. Phase 1 Bicarbonate Administration and Cognitive Function in Midlife and Older Adults With CKD Completed
  4. N/A CAMCI: Advancing the Use of Computerized Screening in Healthcare Completed
  5. N/A A Relational Research Recruitment and Engagement Intervention for Cognitive Aging Research Completed
  6. N/A Probing Cortical Excitability and Cognitive Function With TMS Completed
  7. N/A Effect of an Antioxidants Mix on Cognitive Performance and Well Being: The Bacopa, Licopene, Astaxantina, Vitamin B12 Completed
  8. N/A Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction as Geriatric Syndrome Completed
  9. N/A Lifestyle Physical Activity and Cognitive Training Interventions Completed
  10. N/A Intensive Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Program (IAREP) Completed
  11. N/A Cognitive Remediation for Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Completed
  12. N/A Noninvasive Brain Stimulation for Mild Cognitive Impairment Completed
  13. N/A Feasibility of the Memory and Attention Adaptation-Training Geriatrics Intervention in Older Cancer Survivors With Mild Cognitive Impairment Completed
  14. N/A Physical Activity and Neuropsychological Outcomes in a Cancer Population Completed
  15. N/A Development and Evaluation of Virtual Reality Experiences for Cognitive Stimulation at the Sociosanitary Center El Carme Completed

Showing the 21 most-cited and recently-updated of 21 trials. Browse the full registry →

Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. Counts describe the research landscape and are not a treatment recommendation. Informational only — not medical advice.

What the trials found Updated — new results For clinicians

Cognitive Dysfunction: what the trials found

Renew NCP-5 demonstrated a mean reduction in the Vascular Dementia Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (vADAS-cog) from baseline to 24 weeks, with scores of -9.76 and -5.31.

SAGE-718 was evaluated for safety and physiological impact; 64% of participants showed at least one potentially clinically significant change in vital signs, while 12-16% showed changes in laboratory assessments, and 32% showed changes in ECG measurements.

Recent results — preliminary, needs further review

  • Intensive Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Program (IAREP) was evaluated for cognitive function based on risk stratification scores, but results were mixed/conflicting across different score categories.
  • Active rTMS (Bilateral DLPFC) showed no statistically significant improvement in word recall or semantic clustering at 1 week or 3 months post-intervention.

For the clinician treating this condition

  • Renew NCP-5 is associated with a reduction in vADAS-cog scores over a 24-week period.
  • SAGE-718 has been studied for safety, showing significant rates of clinical changes in vitals and lab assessments.

AI synthesis of 0 cited trials, updated Jun 29, 2026. Informational only — not medical advice; trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. How we use AI.

Cognitive Dysfunction: current evidence & treatments

Cognitive dysfunction is associated with various medical conditions and risk factors. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is linked to a 53% higher odds of cognitive impairment (OR 1.53) 6. In patients with atrial fibrillation, a history of hypertension increases the risk of cognitive impairment (OR 2.22) 7. Among coronary heart disease patients, the pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment is 36.6%, with age as a significant risk factor (OR 1.10) 22. Depression is associated with an increased risk of progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease or dementia 14. Additionally, food insecurity in older adults is linked to poorer diet quality and higher obesity risk, which may contribute to cognitive decline 1.

Several interventions show promise for improving cognitive function. Combined exercise and dietary supplementation modestly improves global cognition in mild cognitive impairment (SMD 0.15) 2. Acupuncture alone significantly outperforms placebo (effect size 1.09) and Western medicine alone (effect size 0.45) for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment 3. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) improves global cognition in Alzheimer's and MCI (SMD 0.49) 13, and combined exercise and tDCS also shows benefit (SMD 0.62) 21. Computerized cognitive training yields moderate improvement in overall cognitive function for MCI 18. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves global cognition and executive function in MCI 16. Music therapy may improve cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms 9, and combined virtual reality and music therapy alleviates cognitive impairment 5. Ashwagandha supplementation improves memory (SMD 0.52), attention (SMD 0.29), and executive function (SMD -0.42) 20. Zingiberaceae-derived interventions (e.g., curcumin) improve memory-related outcomes (SMD 0.19) 19.

Biomarkers and diagnostic tools are being explored. Higher peripheral Galectin-3 levels are found in cognitive impairment (WMD 0.85) 11. Retinal biomarkers (RNFL and GCL-IPL thickness) measured by OCT may differentiate frontotemporal dementia from Alzheimer's disease 10. AI-assisted PET radiomics achieves high accuracy (AUC 0.96) for distinguishing Alzheimer's from MCI, outperforming conventional amyloid-PET 17. Preclinical evidence suggests Atractylenolide III has neuroprotective effects in cognitive impairment models 8. Loneliness in younger men is associated with cognitive decline 4. PRKRA gene variants are enriched in tinnitus patients with MCI 15. Cognitive dysfunction is common after pediatric liver transplant (24% incidence) 24, and ICU CogHab cognitive rehabilitation is being studied in ICU survivors 25. Ferroptosis may play a role in postoperative cognitive dysfunction in older surgical patients 12. Soil contaminants and micronutrient depletion are linked to neurodegenerative processes 23.

Key drugs in the evidence

flavonoids 1 saponins 1 Phenols 1 terpenes 1 polyphenols 1

Latest findings

AI-generated synthesis of 25 cited studies, updated Jun 12, 2026. How we use AI.

HCP Mode — summaries include clinical detail, trial data, and statistical outcomes.
Patient Mode — summaries use plain language, avoiding clinical jargon.
Aerobic and combined physical-cognitive training programs may improve executive function and decision-making in older adults
Geriatrics & Aging Sys. Review
Aerobic and combined physical-cognitive training programs may improve executive function and decision-making in older adults Combined Physical and Cognitive Training May Improve Decision Making
This narrative review examines the impact of aerobic and combined physical-cognitive training on cognitive decline in healthy older adults. …
Combining aerobic exercise with cognitive training may improve executive functions and brain health in older adults to support better decisi…
Frontiers Aug 27, 2026
Dexmedetomidine plus esketamine may reduce postoperative delirium and injury
Pediatrics Meta-analysis
Dexmedetomidine plus esketamine may reduce postoperative delirium and injury Combined dexmedetomidine and esketamine may protect brain function after surgery
Perioperative combo of dexmedetomidine and esketamine lowers neuronal injury biomarkers and delirium risk in surgical patients.
A new analysis suggests a combination of two medications could lower the risk of confusion and protect brain health during and after surgery…
Frontiers Aug 21, 2026
Visual art therapy significantly improves global cognitive function and activities of daily living in older adults
Psychiatry Meta-analysis
Visual art therapy significantly improves global cognitive function and activities of daily living in older adults Visual art therapy improves memory and daily tasks in seniors
This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials indicates that visual art therapy improves global cognitive function (SMD = 0.39) and act…
Engaging in visual art therapy can help older adults improve their overall brain function and perform daily activities more easily.
Frontiers Aug 19, 2026
Computerized cognitive training and cognitive stimulation therapy improve MMSE and MoCA scores in older adults
Primary Care & Family Medicine Meta-analysis
Computerized cognitive training and cognitive stimulation therapy improve MMSE and MoCA scores in older adults Computerized Training Shows Promise for Improving Cognitive Function
This Bayesian network meta-analysis of 35 randomized controlled trials evaluated multiple interventions for cognitive impairment in older ad…
New data from a large analysis suggests that computerized training and brain stimulation may help improve memory and thinking in older adult…
Frontiers Aug 16, 2026
Prolonged FVEP-P2 latency is associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia
Neurology Meta-analysis
Prolonged FVEP-P2 latency is associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia Brain Signal Delays Linked to Alzheimer's and Dementia Types
This meta-analysis of 18 comparisons involving 1,778 participants found significantly prolonged FVEP-P2 latency in patients with Alzheimer's…
A large review found that specific brain signal delays are linked to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline.
Frontiers Aug 10, 2026
Robot-based interventions reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment
Psychiatry Meta-analysis
Robot-based interventions reduce depressive and anxiety symptoms in older adults with cognitive impairment Robot-based Interventions Reduce Depression in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment
This meta-analysis of 514 older adults with cognitive impairment found that robot-based interventions significantly reduced depressive sympt…
New research suggests that robot-based interventions can help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety in older adults living with cognitiv…
Aug 1, 2026
Moderate-intensity resistance training improves cognitive performance and brain health markers in older adults
Geriatrics & Aging Sys. Review
Moderate-intensity resistance training improves cognitive performance and brain health markers in older adults Resistance Training May Boost Brain Health in Older Adults
This narrative review of 28 peer-reviewed publications synthesizes evidence on the effects of low-, moderate-, and high-intensity resistance…
Lifting weights, especially at moderate intensity, may improve memory and thinking in older adults, a review finds.
Frontiers Jul 30, 2026
Pain assessment guidelines for cognitively impaired older adults lack practical detail
Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine Sys. Review
Pain assessment guidelines for cognitively impaired older adults lack practical detail Pain guidelines for dementia patients lack practical advice
This scoping review mapped pain assessment guidelines for hospitalized older adults with cognitive impairment. No Australian guidelines were…
A review finds most pain assessment guidelines for older adults with dementia offer little practical help for hospital staff.
Frontiers Jul 29, 2026
Gastrodin, intranasal insulin, and cognitive training show greatest preventive effectiveness for postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery
Neurology Meta-analysis
Gastrodin, intranasal insulin, and cognitive training show greatest preventive effectiveness for postoperative cognitive dysfunction after cardiac surgery Insulin, Gastrodin, and Training May Protect Brain After Heart Surgery
A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of 46 RCTs (9,928 patients) ranked 20 strategies for preventing postoperative cogniti…
A review of 46 trials suggests certain drugs and cognitive training may help prevent confusion and memory loss after cardiac surgery.
Frontiers Jul 26, 2026
Frailty associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease
Nephrology Meta-analysis
Frailty associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease Frailty increases risk of cognitive issues in kidney disease patients
This meta-analysis of 129,868 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) found that frailty is associated with a significantly higher risk o…
People with chronic kidney disease who experience frailty are much more likely to face memory and thinking problems than those who stay robu…
Jul 25, 2026
Shenmai and Shenfu injections may reduce postoperative cognitive dysfunction incidence following surgical procedures
Drug Pipeline Meta-analysis
Shenmai and Shenfu injections may reduce postoperative cognitive dysfunction incidence following surgical procedures Two injections may help patients recover mental clarity after surgery
This meta-analysis of 16 RCTs involving 1,199 patients indicates that Shenmai and Shenfu injections are associated with higher MMSE scores a…
New data suggests that Shenmai and Shenfu injections could help patients regain mental clarity and awareness more quickly after undergoing s…
Frontiers Jul 25, 2026
Natural compounds may alleviate anesthesia induced cognitive dysfunction through multi-target regulatory mechanisms
Drug Pipeline Sys. Review
Natural compounds may alleviate anesthesia induced cognitive dysfunction through multi-target regulatory mechanisms Natural Compounds May Help Protect Brains After Anesthesia
This systematic review evaluates 16 natural compounds, including flavonoids and polyphenols, regarding their role in mitigating anesthetic-i…
Certain natural compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols may help protect brain function from damage caused by inhalational anesthetics.
Frontiers Jul 25, 2026

Questions about Cognitive Dysfunction

How common is cognitive dysfunction in children who have had a liver transplant?

About 24% of children who have a liver transplant experience cognitive dysfunction, with higher rates in those transplanted before age 1 (39.4%) and in Asia (30.6%).

Full answer →