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New hope for Mild Cognitive Impairment available now

BrainXpert, from Nestlé Health Science, is the first effective nutritional intervention for people diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), signaling a major breakthrough for the MCI community that, until now, has had no available treatments

  • MCI affects 15-20% of people aged 65+, yet more than half of British people (58%) know nothing or little about the common condition
  • BrainXpert can help improve brain function and reduce symptoms of MCI including memory loss and forgetfulness

 

 

New hope has been offered today to people diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), as the first nutritional intervention for the condition affecting 15-20% of people aged 65+1 becomes available.

 

BrainXpert, a groundbreaking new specialized ketogenic drink, from Nestlé Health Science, has been clinically proven2 to support brain function in people with MCI, and reduce the symptoms of the condition, including memory loss, forgetfulness, and a decline in decision-making ability and judgment.

 

According to new research3 released today by Nestlé Health Science to support the launch of BrainXpert, more than half of British people (58%) know nothing, or little, about MCI despite the condition being twice as prevalent as dementia4. In fact, only 3% of people surveyed, aged 55+, said they were likely to go to the doctor if they were worried about or experiencing symptoms of MCI – despite this age group being at the highest risk of developing the condition. 5

 

More than a quarter (28%) of British people consider symptoms of MCI, including memory loss and forgetfulness, a ”normal” part of aging.

 

“It’s not uncommon for people to shrug off symptoms of cognitive decline as simply signs of ‘getting older,’ but if you are becoming increasingly forgetful or feel that you are not thinking as clearly as you used to, you should speak to a healthcare professional,” said Hans-Juergen Woerle, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for Nestlé Health Science. “Symptoms of Mild Cognitive Impairment should be taken seriously. Nestlé Health Science’s research into MCI and its development of a clinically proven nutritional intervention to help improve brain function in people with MCI is a game-changer. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to using the science of nutrition to develop products that can help people live healthier lives.”

 

MCI is a decline in cognitive functioning6 considered a transitional stage between normal ageing and dementia7. In part, MCI develops when a person’s brain has less glucose available as a source of energy8, resulting in symptoms including memory loss, forgetfulness, and a decline in decision-making ability and judgment.

 

The BENEFIC clinical trial confirmed BrainXpert Energy Complex (a compound within BrainXpert) as an effective, alternative brain energy source for people living with MCI, with trial participants showing improved memory and word recall, and increased ability to think quicker and multitask when taking BrainXpert Energy Complex, twice a day for six months.

 

Clinical trial principal investigator, Professor Stephen Cunnane, from the University of Sherbrooke, said, “Identifying significant improvement in cognitive function in patients with MCI is an exciting development that gives us great motivation to stay on this research track. This is only the beginning and the hope is that new innovations can be found to not just boost brain function, but to slow down progression to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline linked to ageing. These results should significantly improve the quality of life for people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment.” Up to 50% of people diagnosed with MCI develop Alzheimer’s disease after 5 years.9

 

BrainXpert is now available online at http://www.brainxpert.com/.  

 

For more information on the study, or BrainXpert, please visit www.nestlehealthscience.com/MCI

 

BrainXpert is intended for special medical purposes for the dietary management of patients suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment. To be used under medical supervision.

 

Phase one of the BENEFIC trial was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia in 20191, and the cognitive results of Phases 1 and 2 combined were published in the same journal in October 2020.

 

Contacts

 

Media Mindy Gold Tel.: + 44 777 616 4464 Mindy.Gold@bcw-global.com
Jacquelyn Campo Tel.: + 41 079 598 1163 Jacquelyn.Campo@nestle.com

 

Notes to editors

 

The BENEFIC trial was conducted in two phases. Phase one demonstrated the change in brain energy status (glucose and ketones) using positron emission tomography (PET) and investigated the potential impact on cognitive function1. In phase two, conducted between 2018-2020 in partnership with Nestlé Health Science, the overall sample size was increased to achieve appropriate statistical analysis for the cognitive function outcomes.2 It also assessed whether the plasma ketone response changed after consumption of a ketogenic drink over six months.2

 

This randomised study involved 82 participants with MCI who completed the trial. They were split into two equivalent groups: the intervention group and the placebo group. The intervention group was given the ketogenic drink (BrainXpert Energy Complex) in a portion of 30 g/day of kMCT that increased blood ketones. The placebo drink provided an equivalent amount of energy that did not produce ketones. Both drinks were taken twice a day for six months.

How Does BrainXpert Work?

The Science Behind BrainXpert