SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical nutrition2026
Effects of probiotics on cognitive function across the human lifespan: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in European journal of clinical nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- The gut microbiome and ageing trajectories: mechanisms and clinical implications.Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2026Review
- Do microbiota rhythms influence cognitive performance? - A narrative review.Frontiers in molecular neuroscience · 2026Review
- ExoBDNF Probiotic Supplementation Enhances Cognition in Subjective Cognitive Decline.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn recent years, probiotics have become one of the research hotspots in the scientific community, and its potential role in intestinal health, immune regulation, and the relationship with the brain has attracted much attention. However, the improvement of cognitive function by probiotics shows different effects in different stages of the human life cycle.
objectiveTherefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to examine the specific effects of probiotics on cognitive function in different age groups.
methodsWe searched four databases from creation to December 2023. A meta-analysis of 21 randomized controlled clinical trials was conducted, using random effect Meta analysis combined with standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% confidence interval [CI]).
resultsOur meta-analysis found that the effects of probiotics on cognitive performance were primarily seen in older age groups, with significant effects on overall cognitive performance, processing speed, memory, and spatial ability (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI [0.13, 0.67], P = 0.004), (SMD = 0.37, 95% CI [0.11, 0.63], P = 0.006), (SMD = 0. 51, 95% CI [0.25, 0.78], P = 0.0002), (SMD = 0.35, 95% CI [0.09, 0.62], P = 0.008). In addition, probiotics improved executive function in infants and children (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI [0.04, 0.56], P = 0.03). In young adults, the effects of probiotics were mainly seen in verbal ability (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI [0.15, 0.71], p = 0.003).
conclusionProbiotic supplements primarily improve overall cognitive function, information processing speed, memory, and spatial ability in older adults, with the best results observed after 12 weeks of daily intake of approximately 2 × 10¹⁰ CFU.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40983638What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.