Souvenaid Reduces Behavioral Deficits and Improves Social Cognition Skills in Frontotemporal Dementia: A Proof-of-Concept Study

• Published in: Neuro-degenerative diseases Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 58 - 62
• Main Authors: Pardini, Matteo, Serrati, Carlo, Guida, Silvia, Mattei, Chiara, Abate, Lucia, Massucco, Davide, Sassos, Davide, Amore, Mario, Krueger, Frank, Cocito, Leonardo, Emberti Gialloreti, Leonardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Brief Communication; Care and treatment; Choline - pharmacology; Choline - therapeutic use; Cognition; Cognition - drug effects; Cognition - physiology; Dementia; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids - pharmacology; Docosahexaenoic Acids - therapeutic use; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - pharmacology; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - therapeutic use; Executive Function - drug effects; Executive Function - physiology; Female; Folic Acid - pharmacology; Folic Acid - therapeutic use; Frontotemporal dementia; Frontotemporal Dementia - drug therapy; Frontotemporal Dementia - psychology; Functional foods; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - prevention & control; Mental Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Selenium - pharmacology; Selenium - therapeutic use; Social Skills; Synapses - drug effects; Synapses - physiology; Testing; Treatment Outcome; Uridine Monophosphate - pharmacology; Uridine Monophosphate - therapeutic use; United States; Medical foods; Behavioral deficits; Fronto-temporal dementia
• ISSN: 1660-2854; 1660-2862; 1660-2862
• DOI: 10.1159/000369811

Background: Souvenaid™ is a nutraceutical compound thought to positively enhance synaptic function. In line with this mechanism of action, Souvenaid™ has been shown to improve cognitive function in subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease in randomized clinical trials. To date, however, the potential of Souvenaid™ to improve cognitive functioning in subjects with other neurodegenerative conditions also characterized by synaptic loss has not been explored. Objective: To evaluate the impact of Souvenaid™ on executive functions, social cognition and behavioral disturbances in subjects with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD). Methods: Twenty-six subjects with bv-FTD were enrolled in the study and randomized to Souvenaid™ (125 ml/day) or placebo groups. After 12 weeks, subjects were switched between the two groups. All subjects, blinded to treatment, underwent clinical and cognitive evaluations at enrollment, after 12 weeks and after 24 weeks. Results: Treatment with Souvenaid™ was associated with a significant reduction of behavioral symptoms and an increase in Theory of Mind skills compared to placebo, which both returned to baseline when Souvenaid™ was discontinued. Souvenaid™ did not have an effect on executive functions. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence of the potential of Souvenaid™ therapy for the treatment of behavioral disturbances and social cognition skills in FTD.