Folic acid supplementation improves cognitive function in participants with cerebral small vascular disease-related cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

The potential improvement of cognitive function through folic acid (FA) supplementation in patients with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) remains unclear, and no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted specifically in populations with cerebral small vessel disease-related cognitive impairment (CSVD-CI).

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the effects of FA supplementation on cognitive function and angiogenesis-related indicators in patients with CSVD-CI.

DESIGN

Double-blinded, parallel group, randomized controlled trial, with a six-month follow-up period.

SETTING

Department of neurology and neurosurgery in Shanxi, China.

PARTICIPANTS

220 CSVD-CI patients.

INTERVENTIONS: The intervention consisted of FA tablets (0.4 mg/tablet) administered orally at a dose of two tablets daily for six months, while the placebo tablets were identical in appearance and administration but lacked FA.

MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score at six months assessed in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary outcomes included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Trail Making Test (TMT), Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), and five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5 L).

RESULTS

MoCA and MMSE scores improved significantly in the FA group compared to placebo (both P < 0.05). Additionally, the FA group had statistically significant increases in serum folate and decreases in serum homocysteine (Hcy) (both P < 0.001). Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression decreased significantly in the FA group compared with placebo (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

FA improved cognitive outcomes in CSVD-CI, accompanied by a reduction in serum Hcy levels and MMP-9 expression. Early FA supplementation could help prevent vascular-related cognitive decline in CSVD-CI patients.