Neuroimaging Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Task‐Based Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Activation Following 12Weeks of Cosmos caudatus Supplementation Among Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

BackgroundCosmos caudatus (CC) is traditional Asian vegetable, commonly consumed among the Southeast Asian population. It has been reported to be high in flavonoids and might potentially improve brain activity among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The effect of CC in brain activation improvement using neuroimaging is yet to be discovered.PurposeTo investigate the effects of CC supplement on brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) among older adults with MCI.Study typeProspective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial.Population/subjectsTwenty older adults with mild cognitive impairment (60–75 years old), 14 of them (70%) were female subjects.Field strength/sequenceA 3.0‐T, T1‐weighted anatomical images, T2*‐weighted imaging data, A single shot, gradient echo‐echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence.AssessmentAll subjects were asked to consume two 500 mg capsules of either CC supplement or placebo (maltodextrin) daily for 12 weeks. Cognitive function was measured using validated neuropsychological tests (i.e. Mini‐mental State Examination and Digit Span) and task‐based fMRI (N‐back and Stroop Color Word Test) at baseline and 12th week. Brodmann's area 9, 46 and anterior cingulate cortex were selected as the regions of interest to define dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in fMRI analysis.Statistical testsNormality test was performed with the Shapiro–Wilk test. Two‐way repeated ANOVA determined the intervention effects of the CC supplementation on brain activity after adjustments for covariates. Significance level at P