The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

<b>Background</b>: Olive leaves are a significant source of biophenols, which have a beneficial impact on cognitive performance. <b>Objective</b>: To examine, for the first time, in humans the effect of the daily consumption of a beverage containing olive leaf extract (OLE) v...

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Main Authors: Sofia Loukou, Georgia Papantoniou, Anastasia Pantazaki, Magdalini Tsolaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Neurology International
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/16/6/95
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author Sofia Loukou
Georgia Papantoniou
Anastasia Pantazaki
Magdalini Tsolaki
author_facet Sofia Loukou
Georgia Papantoniou
Anastasia Pantazaki
Magdalini Tsolaki
author_sort Sofia Loukou
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: Olive leaves are a significant source of biophenols, which have a beneficial impact on cognitive performance. <b>Objective</b>: To examine, for the first time, in humans the effect of the daily consumption of a beverage containing olive leaf extract (OLE) versus a Mediterranean diet (MeDi) on patients diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), in addition to their regular treatment. <b>Methods</b>: A randomized clinical trial compared OLE’s effects on cognitive and functional performance in 55 mild AD patients. Each participant was randomly assigned to two groups: (1) Group 1 was given olive leaves for making a daily beverage and MeDi instructions through monthly diet programs; (2) Group 2 received only the MeDi instructions. After six months, all participants underwent a second neuropsychological evaluation. <b>Results</b>: Group 1 participants had statistically significantly higher MMSE scores compared to Group 2 with a <i>p</i>-value of 0.0135. Specifically, the mean MMSE difference in patients receiving OLE was close to 0, indicating no memory deterioration, whereas in controls it was −4.1, indicative of cognitive decline. The remaining neuropsychological assessments (FRSSD, FUCAS, ADAS-Cog, CDR, GDS, and NPI) revealed better results in the OLE group, except for GDS, which showed no change, but without statistically significant differences between the two groups.
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spelling doaj-art-b5118e7c4cf24e6f92792b4f4d0f34872024-12-27T14:43:47ZengMDPI AGNeurology International2035-83772024-10-011661247126510.3390/neurolint16060095The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical TrialSofia Loukou0Georgia Papantoniou1Anastasia Pantazaki2Magdalini Tsolaki31st Department of Neurology, Medical School, “AHEPA” General Hospital Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Makedonia, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece1st Department of Neurology, Medical School, “AHEPA” General Hospital Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Makedonia, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece<b>Background</b>: Olive leaves are a significant source of biophenols, which have a beneficial impact on cognitive performance. <b>Objective</b>: To examine, for the first time, in humans the effect of the daily consumption of a beverage containing olive leaf extract (OLE) versus a Mediterranean diet (MeDi) on patients diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), in addition to their regular treatment. <b>Methods</b>: A randomized clinical trial compared OLE’s effects on cognitive and functional performance in 55 mild AD patients. Each participant was randomly assigned to two groups: (1) Group 1 was given olive leaves for making a daily beverage and MeDi instructions through monthly diet programs; (2) Group 2 received only the MeDi instructions. After six months, all participants underwent a second neuropsychological evaluation. <b>Results</b>: Group 1 participants had statistically significantly higher MMSE scores compared to Group 2 with a <i>p</i>-value of 0.0135. Specifically, the mean MMSE difference in patients receiving OLE was close to 0, indicating no memory deterioration, whereas in controls it was −4.1, indicative of cognitive decline. The remaining neuropsychological assessments (FRSSD, FUCAS, ADAS-Cog, CDR, GDS, and NPI) revealed better results in the OLE group, except for GDS, which showed no change, but without statistically significant differences between the two groups.https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/16/6/95Alzheimer’s diseaseolive leaf extractMediterranean dietmild dementianatural compounds
spellingShingle Sofia Loukou
Georgia Papantoniou
Anastasia Pantazaki
Magdalini Tsolaki
The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Neurology International
Alzheimer’s disease
olive leaf extract
Mediterranean diet
mild dementia
natural compounds
title The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
title_full The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
title_fullStr The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
title_short The Role of Greek Olive Leaf Extract in Patients with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease (the GOLDEN Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
title_sort role of greek olive leaf extract in patients with mild alzheimer s disease the golden study a randomized controlled clinical trial
topic Alzheimer’s disease
olive leaf extract
Mediterranean diet
mild dementia
natural compounds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2035-8377/16/6/95
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