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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

terpenes 1 polyphenols 1 flavonoids 1 saponins 1 Phenols 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.
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
Review of EEG microstate analysis shows high diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing neuropsychiatric symptoms from cognitive impairment
Neurology
Review of EEG microstate analysis shows high diagnostic accuracy for distinguishing neuropsychiatric symptoms from cognitive impairment New brain wave test spots mental health symptoms in dementia patients
This cross-sectional study review evaluates EEG microstate analysis for differentiating patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms from those w…
Hidden patterns in brain waves can now reveal depression or agitation in dementia patients, offering a clearer way to diagnose hard-to-spot …
medRxiv Apr 29, 2026
AI-driven home cognitive program improves global cognition in older adults with MCI
Neurology RCT
AI-driven home cognitive program improves global cognition in older adults with MCI AI Home Program Boosts Memory Scores In Older Adults With Mild Memory Loss
This randomized controlled trial in 62 older adults with mild cognitive impairment found that a 5-week AI-driven home cognitive rehabilitati…
A new AI home program significantly improved memory scores in older adults, offering a hopeful new path for brain health without leaving hom…
Frontiers Apr 28, 2026
Living alone not linked to incident dementia but associated with higher institutionalization risk in a cohort of 2,269 individuals
Geriatrics & Aging Cohort
Living alone not linked to incident dementia but associated with higher institutionalization risk in a cohort of 2,269 individuals Living Alone Does Not Raise Dementia Risk But Increases Care Needs
This French clinic-based cohort study followed 2,269 individuals with cognitive complaints or mild cognitive impairment for a median of 5 ye…
Living alone does not increase dementia risk, but it does raise the chance of needing nursing home care later.
Frontiers Apr 28, 2026
Olfactory decline associated with conversion to mild cognitive impairment and dementia in unimpaired adults
Neurology Cohort
Olfactory decline associated with conversion to mild cognitive impairment and dementia in unimpaired adults Losing your sense of smell might warn of memory loss
This retrospective longitudinal analysis of 922 cognitively unimpaired individuals found olfactory decline associated with conversion to mil…
Losing your sense of smell could warn of memory loss years before symptoms appear in older adults seeking help.
medRxiv Apr 28, 2026
Cross-sectional study observes differences in cardiovascular regulatory responses in mild cognitive impairment
Geriatrics & Aging
Cross-sectional study observes differences in cardiovascular regulatory responses in mild cognitive impairment Researchers find heart rhythm changes linked to mild cognitive impairment
This cross-sectional observational study investigated cardiovascular regulatory responses to acute cognitive stress in community-dwelling ol…
New observations suggest that how the heart responds to mental stress may differ in people with early signs of memory loss.
medRxiv Apr 27, 2026
Bibliometric review of anesthesia-associated postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients from 2000 to 2024
Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine Meta-analysis
Bibliometric review of anesthesia-associated postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients from 2000 to 2024 Why Your Brain Fog After Surgery Might Start in Your Gut
This bibliometric review analyzed 923 publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and PubMed database regarding anesthesia-as…
Understanding how surgery and anesthesia trigger brain inflammation could lead to new ways to prevent memory loss after operations.
Frontiers Apr 24, 2026
Meta-analysis links digital exclusion to functional decline and dementia in older adults
Physical Medicine & Rehab Meta-analysis
Meta-analysis links digital exclusion to functional decline and dementia in older adults Being cut off from technology hurts daily life and brain health for older adults
This meta-analysis of 19 studies found that digital exclusion in middle-aged and older adults was prospectively associated with decreased ba…
Being left out of the digital world makes daily tasks harder and raises dementia risk for older adults.
Apr 24, 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 →