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Home › Conditions › Cognitive Dysfunction

Cognitive Dysfunction

Subtypes of Cognitive Dysfunction

Mild Cognitive Impairment 82 Cognitive Decline 16 Postoperative cognitive dysfunction 7 Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment 4 Postoperative cognitive complications 1

109 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 21 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 · 21 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

polyphenols 1 flavonoids 1 saponins 1 Phenols 1 terpenes 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.
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
Network meta-analysis protocol aims to rank structured exercise interventions for fall prevention in dementia
Rheumatology Meta-analysis
Network meta-analysis protocol aims to rank structured exercise interventions for fall prevention in dementia Exercise Programs May Help Prevent Falls in Seniors with Dementia
This is a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis regarding structured exercise interventions for older adults with mild …
A planned review aims to determine which types of structured exercise best help older adults with memory loss stay safe and avoid falling.
Frontiers Jul 24, 2026
Neuroinflammation as an interconnected network process regulates synaptic integrity and neuronal survival in cognitive aging
Geriatrics & Aging Sys. Review
Neuroinflammation as an interconnected network process regulates synaptic integrity and neuronal survival in cognitive aging Neuroinflammation as a Network Process in Cognitive Decline
This mini-review explores neuroinflammation as a complex, interconnected network process influencing brain health. The authors synthesize ho…
A new mini-review suggests neuroinflammation acts as an interconnected network that can either protect or harm the brain, influencing cognit…
Frontiers Jul 24, 2026
Bibliometric analysis identifies growing research trends and key hubs for short-chain fatty acids in cognitive impairment
Neurology Sys. Review
Bibliometric analysis identifies growing research trends and key hubs for short-chain fatty acids in cognitive impairment Mapping the Growing Research on Gut Health and Memory Loss Diseases
This systematic review provides a bibliometric analysis of 425 WoSCC and 514 Scopus records regarding short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and co…
Scientists are tracking how gut-related compounds might help brain health. This review maps out years of research into these important links…
Frontiers Jul 19, 2026
Multidomain lifestyle interventions provide small but statistically significant benefits for global cognition scores
Neurology Meta-analysis
Multidomain lifestyle interventions provide small but statistically significant benefits for global cognition scores Multidomain lifestyle changes may help slow signs of dementia
This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving 23209 participants found that multidomain lifestyle interventions (three or mor…
Combining multiple lifestyle habits like diet and exercise can lead to small but steady improvements in brain health for those at risk of de…
medRxiv Jul 16, 2026
Sarcopenia is associated with 2.30 higher odds of cognitive impairment in Latin American adults
Geriatrics & Aging Meta-analysis
Sarcopenia is associated with 2.30 higher odds of cognitive impairment in Latin American adults Sarcopenia Linked to Higher Risk of Cognitive Impairment
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 studies involving 13,395 community-dwelling adults in Latin America found that sarcopenia is s…
A large review of data from Latin America shows that muscle loss in older adults is linked to a much higher risk of cognitive impairment.
Jul 6, 2026
Evaluating High Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post Stroke Cognitive Impairment
Neurology Meta-analysis
Evaluating High Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Post Stroke Cognitive Impairment Magnetic brain stimulation may improve memory after a stroke
Meta-analysis results indicate that HF-rTMS significantly improves various memory functions in patients suffering from post-stroke cognitive…
A large review of data suggests that high-frequency magnetic stimulation could help improve memory for people living with post-stroke cognit…
Jul 1, 2026
Demographic and clinical factors associated with poststroke cognitive impairment in stroke patients
Cardiology Meta-analysis
Demographic and clinical factors associated with poststroke cognitive impairment in stroke patients Key risk factors identified for cognitive issues after stroke
This meta-analysis examined various risk factors, including age, gender, education level, and comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes, …
New data identifies how age, gender, and underlying conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure impact brain health after a stroke.
Jul 1, 2026
EEG microstate duration and occurrence rates differ significantly between Alzheimer's patients and healthy controls
Neurology Meta-analysis
EEG microstate duration and occurrence rates differ significantly between Alzheimer's patients and healthy controls Brain wave patterns show differences in Alzheimer's and memory loss
This meta-analysis of 16 studies evaluated EEG microstate parameters in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment…
New analysis shows specific brain wave patterns change as memory fades, offering a new way to look at how the brain handles information.
Jul 1, 2026
Meta Analysis Evaluating Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Cognitive Enhancement
Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine Meta-analysis
Meta Analysis Evaluating Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Cognitive Enhancement Vagus nerve stimulation shows link to improved cognitive performance
New evidence suggests taVNS significantly improves executive functions and cognitive flexibility across diverse patient populations.
A large review of studies suggests that ear-based vagus nerve stimulation may improve memory, focus, and emotional regulation.
Jun 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 →