Compositions and methods that attenuate cognitive aging in individuals who do not have dementia

Abstract

A method of attenuating, treating or preventing cognitive aging in an individual who does not have dementia includes administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a composition containing an omega-3 fatty acid, a nitric oxide releasing compound, Vitamin B12 and choline. The composition is administered in a daily dose that provides 0.1 to 50 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of Vitamin B12 per day, more preferably 0.1 to 40 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of Vitamin B12 per day and 0.01 to 10.0 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of choline. Optionally Vitamin B6 and/or Vitamin B9 can be included in the composition. The method can achieve a benefit that is one or more of decreasing brain atrophy, increasing or maintaining number of synapses, increasing amyloid-β phagocytosis, or decreasing or maintaining neuroinflammation in the non-demented individual. The method can prevent dementia in an individual at risk thereof, for example an elderly human.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of attenuating, treating or preventing cognitive aging in a non-demented individual in need thereof or at risk thereof, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an omega-3 fatty acid, a nitric oxide releasing compound, Vitamin B12 and citicoline. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered in a daily dose that provides 0.1 to 50 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of Vitamin B12 per day . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the daily dose provides about 10 to 30 times the RDA of Vitamin B12 per day, . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is an older adult. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is a companion animal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is orally administered to the individual daily for at least one month. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nitric oxide releasing compound comprises citrulline. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the omega-3 fatty acid comprises a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises one or more additional B vitamins selected from the group consisting of Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7 and Vitamin B9. 
     
     
         11 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises one or more further antioxidants selected from the group consisting of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and selenium. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual has a low DHA status at baseline. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual has a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 0.5 at baseline. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual has a low a plasma homocysteine level at baseline of at least 12 µmol/L. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual has a risk score in Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) of 10 to 15 at baseline. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of attenuating, treating or preventing cognitive aging in a non-demented individual in need thereof or at risk thereof, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an omega-3 fatty acid, a nitric oxide releasing compound, Vitamin B12 and citicoline. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is administered in a daily dose that provides an amount of the Vitamin B12 that comprises 0.1 to 40 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of Vitamin B12 per day and an amount of the citicoline that comprises 0.01 to 10.0 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of choline. 
     
     
         24 . A method of achieving one or more of benefits selected from the group consisting of decreasing brain atrophy, increasing or maintaining number of synapses, increasing or maintaining amyloid-β phagocytosis, and decreasing neuroinflammation in a non-demented individual in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising an omega-3 fatty acid, a nitric oxide releasing compound, Vitamin B12 and citicoline. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the composition is administered in a daily dose that provides an amount of the Vitamin B12 that comprises 0.1 to 50 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of Vitamin B12 per day and and an amount of the citicoline that comprises 0.01 to 10.0 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of choline. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the composition is administered in a daily dose that provides about 10 to 50 times the recommended daily requirement (RDA) of Vitamin B12 per day 2. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the nitric oxide releasing compound comprises citrulline, and the omega-3 fatty acid comprises a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         28 - 42 . (canceled)