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Home › Conditions › Cognitive Dysfunction

Cognitive Dysfunction

Subtypes of Cognitive Dysfunction

Mild Cognitive Impairment 57 Cognitive Decline 11 Postoperative cognitive dysfunction 4 Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment 3 Postoperative cognitive complications 1

76 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 20 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 · 20 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.

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.

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.
Preoperative psychological factors are associated with postoperative cognitive outcomes in older adults
Psychiatry Meta-analysis
Preoperative psychological factors are associated with postoperative cognitive outcomes in older adults Psychological factors linked to cognitive issues after surgery in older adults
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined preoperative psychological factors in older adults aged 60 years or older.
A large review links preoperative anxiety and stress to worse cognitive outcomes after surgery for older patients.
May 1, 2026
ICU CogHab cognitive rehabilitation feasibility study in ICU survivors with cognitive impairment
Emergency Medicine RCT
ICU CogHab cognitive rehabilitation feasibility study in ICU survivors with cognitive impairment Feasibility study tests cognitive rehab for ICU survivors with cognitive impairment
This randomised controlled feasibility study evaluated a cognitive rehabilitation intervention in 83 ICU survivors with cognitive impairment…
A feasibility study found that cognitive rehabilitation can be introduced to ICU survivors, though recruitment and retention remain challeng…
May 1, 2026
Meta-analysis finds 24% incidence of cognitive dysfunction after pediatric liver transplant
Pediatrics Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis finds 24% incidence of cognitive dysfunction after pediatric liver transplant Nearly 1 in 4 kids face thinking problems after liver transplant
This meta-analysis of 7494 children after liver transplantation reports a pooled incidence of cognitive dysfunction of 24% (95% CI: 19.0%-30…
One in four children develops thinking problems after a liver transplant, with infants facing the highest risk.
May 1, 2026
Systematic review and meta-analysis of digital technology interventions for cognitive function and mood in older adults
Psychiatry Meta-analysis
Systematic review and meta-analysis of digital technology interventions for cognitive function and mood in older adults Digital tools may boost brain health in older adults
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated digital technology interventions in older adults with cognitive impairment, depression, a…
Using digital technology like apps or online programs may improve thinking skills and mood in older adults, a new analysis suggests.
May 1, 2026
Narrative review discusses pharmacological and lifestyle interventions for type 2 diabetes and psychological health
Diabetes & Endocrinology Sys. Review
Narrative review discusses pharmacological and lifestyle interventions for type 2 diabetes and psychological health New hope for diabetes patients struggling with anxiety and depression
This narrative review examines the relationship between type 2 diabetes and conditions such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment…
Diabetes drugs that control blood sugar might also help improve mood and reduce anxiety for patients living with the condition.
Frontiers Apr 30, 2026
Framingham cohort links longitudinal brain atrophy patterns to cognitive decline and AD biomarkers in community-based participants
Neurology Cohort
Framingham cohort links longitudinal brain atrophy patterns to cognitive decline and AD biomarkers in community-based participants Brain shrinkage patterns predict Alzheimer's risk in older adults
This community-based cohort study of 300 participants from the Framingham Heart Study analyzed longitudinal brain atrophy patterns using MRI…
A study of 300 older adults found specific brain shrinkage patterns that strongly predict Alzheimer's disease and worse thinking skills.
medRxiv Apr 30, 2026
Diabetes and social support associations with cognitive impairment in elderly schizophrenia inpatients
Psychiatry Cohort
Diabetes and social support associations with cognitive impairment in elderly schizophrenia inpatients Social support and daily living skills linked to lower dementia risk in schizophrenia
This retrospective cross-sectional study of 149 elderly inpatients with schizophrenia found a 47.7% prevalence of cognitive impairment.
Nearly half of elderly schizophrenia patients have cognitive impairment. Social support and daily living skills may protect against it.
Frontiers Apr 30, 2026
Pilot study assesses safety and feasibility of young donor plasma replacement in mild cognitive impairment
Geriatrics & Aging
Pilot study assesses safety and feasibility of young donor plasma replacement in mild cognitive impairment Twelve patients with early memory loss received young donor blood plasma safely
This pilot study examined the safety and feasibility of replacing patient plasma with that from young donors in twelve individuals with mild…
Twelve patients with early memory loss received young donor blood plasma safely. The procedure was feasible and well tolerated.
medRxiv Apr 30, 2026
Lower MAMC and higher MIS associated with cognitive impairment in maintenance hemodialysis patients
Nutrition & Obesity Medicine Cohort
Lower MAMC and higher MIS associated with cognitive impairment in maintenance hemodialysis patients Muscle loss and inflammation linked to thinking problems in dialysis patients
This single-center cross-sectional study included 86 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.
Dialysis patients with muscle wasting and higher inflammation scores were more likely to have cognitive impairment, a new study finds.
Frontiers Apr 29, 2026
Network meta-analysis finds PUFA supplements may benefit cognition in mild cognitive impairment
Nutrition & Obesity Medicine Meta-analysis
Network meta-analysis finds PUFA supplements may benefit cognition in mild cognitive impairment Fatty acids could improve thinking in mild memory loss
This systematic review and network meta-analysis of 2,451 elderly participants with mild cognitive impairment found that PUFA supplements sh…
New analysis suggests certain fatty acids may help older people with mild memory loss think better and function well.
Frontiers Apr 29, 2026
Narrative review discusses postoperative care strategies for older adults with hip fracture and cognitive impairment
Primary Care & Family Medicine Sys. Review
Narrative review discusses postoperative care strategies for older adults with hip fracture and cognitive impairment New care plans help seniors with memory loss recover from broken hips
This narrative review examines postoperative care management strategies for older adults with hip fracture and cognitive impairment.
New care plans help seniors with memory loss recover from broken hips by reducing confusion and speeding up movement after surgery.
Frontiers Apr 29, 2026
Review of cross-sectional EEG study on 32-Hz stimulation in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
Psychiatry
Review of cross-sectional EEG study on 32-Hz stimulation in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment Why Some Brains Respond Better to Gamma Stimulation in Alzheimer's
This review summarizes a cross-sectional EEG study evaluating 32-Hz visual stimulation in adults aged 55 years or older with Alzheimer's dis…
People with lower cognitive reserve showed bigger brain network changes during gamma stimulation, suggesting who might benefit most.
medRxiv Apr 29, 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 →