The Study
Synergistic Effects of Cordyceps militaris and Alpha-lipoic Acid on Brain Disorders Associated with Age-dependent Oxidative Stress
This study watched what happened to old rats when they were given two special substances. It saw that the rats seemed to move better and remember more, but it didn't randomly assign who got the treatment — so we can't be sure the substances caused the changes. It's like noticing your dog acts calmer after you give it a treat — maybe the treat helped, or maybe it was just a good day.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave old rats a mix of a special mushroom extract and a vitamin-like compound to see if it helped their brains work better.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 514 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1These improvements suggest the combo might help aging brains fight damage and keep memory and movement strong, like a natural shield.
- 2Rats that got the mix remembered 2.9x longer, made 3.2x fewer mistakes, moved 3.2x longer on a spinning rod, and had 3.4x less brain damage from aging.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
Year
2025
Authors
Harish Kumar, Seema Bansal, Rishabh Chaudhary, Wandeep Dagar, Neha Goyal, Khushboo Aggarwal, Sumeet Gupta, Sunayna Choudhary
Related Content
Claims (4)
In older rats, a combination of Cordyceps militaris extract and alpha-lipoic acid given daily for three months reduces levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by 2.2 times and nuclear factor kappa B activity by 3 times in the hippocampus.
In aged rats, a combination of Cordyceps militaris extract and alpha-lipoic acid given for three months is linked to a 4.2-fold decrease in hippocampal malondialdehyde and a 3.6-fold increase in catalase activity.
In older rats, taking a daily supplement of Cordyceps militaris extract and alpha-lipoic acid for three months is linked to improved performance in a memory test and measurable changes in brain markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant activity.
Aged rats given Cordyceps militaris extract and alpha-lipoic acid for three months showed a 3.2-fold increase in time spent on a rotating rod and a 2-fold increase in movement, indicating improved motor coordination and physical endurance.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.