Condition

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal age-related changes and dementia, when memory or thinking problems are noticeable but don't yet disrupt daily life. Among supplements, folic acid has moderate evidence, with a meta-analysis of trials finding better cognition, and B vitamins improved memory and slowed brain shrinkage in people with high homocysteine. Those studies were small, and the B vitamin benefits appeared mainly in people with high homocysteine.

Sources: PMID 38964091

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
2 studies cited
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) protocol

Supplements studied: 17
Graded outcomes: 13
Trials: 11
People studied: 7,246

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

17 supplements

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9): outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	823 people
Studies that measured cognition Effects of folic acid supplementation on cognitive function and inflammation in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Arch Gerontol Geriatr · PMID 38964091
	TNF-Alpha	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	408 people
Studies that measured tnf-alpha The Effects of Folic Acid Supplementation on Pro-inflammatory Mediators: a Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Clin Ther · PMID 34857394 Beneficial effects of folic acid on inflammatory markers in the patients with metabolic syndrome: Meta-analysis and meta-regression of data from 511 participants in 10 randomized controlled trials.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr · PMID 36576260
	Interleukin 6	Improves (the measure goes down)			408 people

Medium-chain Triglycerides

Medium-chain Triglycerides: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		236 people
	Ketone Bodies	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	246 people
Studies that measured ketone bodies Medium Chain Triglycerides induce mild ketosis and may improve cognition in Alzheimer's disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis of human studiesAgeing Res Rev · PMID 31870908 Medium-chain fatty acids for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysisNutr Rev · PMID 36633304 Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) for the Symptomatic Treatment of Dementia-Related Diseases: A Systematic Review.J Nutr Metab · PMID 38715705

Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng)

Cognition: improves
Intermediate-Term Memory: improves
Short-Term Memory (Simple): improves

Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng): outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	9 studies	90 people
Studies that measured cognition Effects of Panax ginseng, consumed with and without glucose, on blood glucose levels and cognitive performance during sustained 'mentally demanding' tasksJ Psychopharmacol · PMID 16401645 Improvement of cognitive deficit in Alzheimer's disease patients by long term treatment with korean red ginsengJ Ginseng Res · PMID 23717092 Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Cognitive and Motor Function: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled TrialJ Ginseng Res · PMID 23717119 and 6 more on the Panax Ginseng (Korean Ginseng) page
	Intermediate-Term Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	90 people
Studies that measured intermediate-term memory Cognition enhancing effect of panax ginseng in Korean volunteers with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialTransl Clin Pharmacol · PMID 32055589
	Short-Term Memory (Simple)	Improves (the measure goes up)			90 people

Chromium

Blood glucose: improves
Glycemic Control: improves
Depression Symptoms: improves

Chromium: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Blood glucose Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	6 studies	36 people
Studies that measured blood glucose Effects of acute chromium supplementation on postprandial metabolism in healthy young menJ Am Coll Nutr · 2004 · PMID 15310739 Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Blood Glucose and Lipid Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysisBiol Trace Elem Res · PMID 33783683 Beneficial effects of oral chromium picolinate supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized clinical studyJ Trace Elem Med Biol · PMID 26302914 and 3 more on the Chromium page
	Glycemic Control	Improves (the measure goes up)		9 studies	36 people
Studies that measured glycemic control The effects of inorganic chromium and brewer's yeast on glucose tolerance, plasma lipids, and plasma chromium in elderly subjectsAm J Clin Nutr · 1985 · PMID 3898805 Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetesDiabetes Care · PMID 16873787 Chromium treatment has no effect in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Western population: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialDiabetes Care · PMID 17303791 and 6 more on the Chromium page
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		4 studies	36 people
Studies that measured depression symptoms A 2-year, open-label pilot study of adjunctive chromium in patients with treatment-resistant rapid-cycling bipolar disorderJ Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 17224731 A double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial of chromium picolinate in atypical depression: effect on carbohydrate cravingJ Psychiatr Pract · PMID 16184071 Effectiveness of chromium in atypical depression: a placebo-controlled trialBiol Psychiatry · PMID 12559660 and 1 more on the Chromium page
	Insulin	Changes; see studies		1 study	36 people
Studies that measured insulin A pilot study of chromium picolinate for weight lossJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 20192914
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)			36 people

DHEA

Cognitive Decline: improves
Estrogen: changes; see studies
Testosterone: improves

DHEA: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognitive Decline Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	27 people
Studies that measured cognitive decline Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and atamestane supplementation on frailty in elderly menJ Clin Endocrinol Metab · PMID 16804050
	Estrogen	Changes; see studies		8 studies	27 people
Studies that measured estrogen Dehydroepiandrosterone combined with exercise improves muscle strength and physical function in frail older womenJ Am Geriatr Soc · PMID 20863330 Dehydroepiandrosterone replacement in healthy men with age-related decline of DHEA-S: effects on fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolismAging Male · PMID 14628495 Short-term dehydroepiandrosterone treatment increases platelet cGMP production in elderly male subjectsClin Endocrinol · PMID 16487434 and 5 more on the DHEA page
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)		3 studies	27 people
Studies that measured testosterone Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on cognitive function and activities of daily living in older women with mild to moderate cognitive impairmentGeriatr Gerontol Int · PMID 20497239 Androgens and sexual function: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of testosterone vs. dehydroepiandrosterone in men with sexual dysfunction and androgen deficiencyAging Male · PMID 19883295 A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Exp Gerontol · PMID 33045358
	Serum DHEA	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	27 people
Studies that measured serum dhea Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone vs androstenedione supplementation in menMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 10613429 Effect of acute DHEA administration on free testosterone in middle-aged and young men following high-intensity interval trainingEur J Appl Physiol · PMID 23417481

Nicotine

Anxiety Symptoms
Blood Pressure: improves
Cognition: improves

Nicotine: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Mixed effect		1 study	67 people
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms Nicotine increases neural response to unpleasant stimuli and anxiety in non-smokersAddict Biol · PMID 20731637
	Blood Pressure	Improves (the measure goes down)	2 studies	67 people
Studies that measured blood pressure Nicotine treatment of mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month double-blind pilot clinical trialNeurology · PMID 22232050 Acute effects of nicotine on physiological and subjective sexual arousal in nonsmoking men: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Sex Med · PMID 17971108
	Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)		67 people
	Depression Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		67 people
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		67 people
	Weight	Improves (the measure goes down)		134 people

N-Phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester

Cerebral Trauma Rehabilitation: improves

N-Phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cerebral Trauma Rehabilitation Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	1 study	41 people
Studies that measured cerebral trauma rehabilitation Comparative studies of Noopept and piracetam in the treatment of patients with mild cognitive disorders in organic brain diseases of vascular and traumatic originNeurosci Behav Physiol · PMID 19234797

B Vitamins

Cognitive Decline: improves

B Vitamins: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cognitive Decline Benefits in MCI patients with high homocysteine: improved MMSE, episodic memory, slowed atrophy	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		500 people

Phosphatidylserine

Forgetting: improves
Memory: improves

Phosphatidylserine: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Forgetting Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		15 people
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	15 people
Studies that measured memory An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive declineIsr J Psychiatry Relat Sci · PMID 11201936

Vitamin E

Alzheimer's Disease Risk
Cognition: improves

Vitamin E: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Alzheimer's Disease Risk No effect		NoneNo effect	3 studies	1,589 people
Studies that measured alzheimer's disease risk Effects of vitamin E supplementation on the risk and progression of AD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Nutr Neurosci · PMID 30900960 Vitamin E and donepezil for the treatment of mild cognitive impairmentN Engl J Med · PMID 15829527 Vitamin E for Alzheimer's dementia and mild cognitive impairment.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 28418065
	Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)			820 people

Creatine

Attention
Cognition: improves
Memory: improves

Creatine: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Attention No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	211 people
Studies that measured attention The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Nutr · PMID 39070254
	Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)		4 studies	280 people
Studies that measured cognition Oral creatine monohydrate supplementation improves brain performance: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trialProc Biol Sci · PMID 14561278 The influence of creatine supplementation on the cognitive functioning of vegetarians and omnivoresBr J Nutr · PMID 21118604 Creatine supplementation does not improve cognitive function in young adultsPhysiol Behav · PMID 18579168 and 1 more on the Creatine page
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	492 people
Studies that measured memory Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Nutr Rev · PMID 35984306
	Executive Function	Improves (the measure goes up)			104 people
	Processing Speed	Improves (the measure goes up)			104 people

Probiotics

Attention
Cognition: improves
Memory: improves

Probiotics: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Attention No effect		NoneNo effect		402 people
	Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)		4 studies	419 people
Studies that measured cognition Gaba-producing lactobacilli boost cognitive reactivity to negative mood without improving cognitive performance: A human Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over study.Brain Behav Immun · PMID 39163908 The effect of probiotics on select cognitive domains in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Alzheimers Dis Rep · PMID 40034358 Efficacy of probiotic supplementation in influencing cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.J Food Sci · PMID 40709497 and 1 more on the Probiotics page
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)			517 people

Anthocyanins

Verbal Memory
Working Memory: improves

Anthocyanins: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Verbal Memory No effect (isolated supplement)		NoneNo effect		14 people
	Working Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	14 people

Piracetam

Cognitive Decline: improves

Piracetam: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cognitive Decline	Improves (the measure goes down)		5 studies	1,488 people

Green Tea Extract

Cognition: improves

Green Tea Extract: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	45 people

Lion's Mane

Cognitive Decline: improves

Lion's Mane: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cognitive Decline	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	30 people

Bacopa Monnieri

Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms: changes; see studies

Bacopa Monnieri: outcomes studied for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms	Changes; see studies		1 study	34 people

Key findings

CognitionFolic Acid (Vitamin B9)Improves (the measure goes up)
Blood glucoseChromiumImproves (the measure goes down)
Cognitive DeclineDHEAImproves (the measure goes down)

The Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) protocol

2 primary supplements · 2 supporting supplements

Omega-3 DHA1–2 g DHA daily
Phosphatidylserine100–300 mg daily

See the full protocol

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Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

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Studies cited

2 studies from PubMed

Effectiveness of Tai Chi as a non-invasive intervention for mild cognitive impairment in the elderly: A comprehensive review and meta-analysis.Narra J · PMID 38798853
Effects of exercise on cognitive function and glycated hemoglobin A1c among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Geriatr Gerontol Int · PMID 39757130

Evidence by supplement

Key findings

The Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related conditions

Supplement stack for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)