Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42715913›Full record

ArticleThe journal of nutrition, health & aging2026

Effects of Konjac glucosylceramides on cognitive function in cognitively unimpaired older adults with subjective cognitive concerns: a randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot study.

Kohei Yuyama, Hui Sun, Koichi Eguchi, Kenichi Oe, Yuichi Ukawa, Mika Otsuki, Hiroyuki Nakai, Jinichi Isono, Takayasu Sekine, Toshifumi Imada and 5 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Kohei YuyamaGraduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, 001-0021, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Institute for the Promotion of Business-Regional Collaboration, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Electronic address: kyuyama@sci.hokudai.ac.jp.
Hui SunFaculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, 001-0021, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Institute for the Promotion of Business-Regional Collaboration, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Koichi EguchiSafety and Quality Assurance Headquarters, Quality Assurance Center Daicel Corporation, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan.
Kenichi OeHealthcare SBU Business Strategy, R&D Daicel Corporation, Niigata, Japan.
Yuichi UkawaHealthcare SBU Business Strategy, Business Planning Daicel Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Mika OtsukiFaculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Hiroyuki NakaiD-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc., 1-1, Toranomon 4-chome, Tokyo, Japan.
Jinichi IsonoD-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc., 1-1, Toranomon 4-chome, Tokyo, Japan.
Takayasu SekineD-LAB, Japan Tobacco Inc., 1-1, Toranomon 4-chome, Tokyo, Japan.
Toshifumi ImadaFood Technology Solution Department, Nishimoto Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
Akiko TanakaHealth Information Science Center, Hokkaido Information University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Hiroyo Kagami-KatsuyamaHealth Information Science Center, Hokkaido Information University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Naoyuki HonmaHealth Information Science Center, Hokkaido Information University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Jun NishiharaHealth Information Science Center, Hokkaido Information University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.
Kenji MondeGraduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, 001-0021, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDiet-derived bioactive lipids may help maintain cognitive resilience during the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Konjac-derived glucosylceramide (kGlcCer), traditionally used for skin barrier support, has previously been shown to reduce brain amyloid accumulation in individuals with lower baseline amyloid burden. However, earlier studies used cognitive tests with limited sensitivity. The objective of this study was to investigate whether daily intake of kGlcCer improves cognitive performance and influences amyloid-related biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired older adults with subjective cognitive concerns.

designA 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

participantsForty cognitively unimpaired older adults aged 60-80 years who reported subjective decline in memory or cognitive function were enrolled and randomly assigned to study groups.

interventionParticipants received placebo or kGlcCer at doses of 1.8, 3.6, or 5.4 mg/day for 24 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: Cognitive outcomes were assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) Logical Memory I/II, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Coding, and Standard Verbal Paired-Associate Learning Test (S-PA). Brain amyloid accumulation was estimated using plasma amyloid-β (Aβ) composite biomarker levels.

resultsIn this exploratory pilot trial, kGlcCer intake was associated with changes in several cognitive measures, although consistent between-group superiority was not observed across all outcomes. The medium-dose group showed significantly greater improvement in WAIS-IV Coding performance compared with the placebo group. Although significant within-group improvements were observed in several measures in the high-dose group such as immediate and delayed verbal memory assessed by WMS-R Logical Memory I/II, as well as in unrelated word-pair learning on the S-PA, consistent placebo-adjusted between-group differences were not observed across these outcomes. Stratified analysis further revealed kGlcCer intake may be associated with favorable changes in amyloid-related biomarkers in high-dose participants with low baseline amyloid burden. No safety concerns related to kGlcCer intake were observed during the study period.

conclusionThese exploratory findings suggest that kGlcCer may be associated with changes in selected cognitive domains and amyloid-related biomarkers. However, the present pilot study was not powered to establish efficacy, and larger adequately powered randomized trials are required. STUDY ID: UMIN000051463, date of registration: 07-03-2023.

Indexed as

Amyloid biomarkerCognitive functionGlucosylceramidePreclinical Alzheimer’s diseaseRandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42715913
PMCPMC13583566

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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.