Carnosine supplementation improves cognitive outcomes in younger participants of the NEAT trial.

O'Toole TE, Amraotkar AR, Gao H, Sears CG, Rai SN, Basner M, Bhatnagar A

Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics6 Feb 2025Cited by 9 (Europe PMC)

PMID39919936PMCIDPMC12014415DOI10.1016/j.neurot.2025.e00541PepBankPUB-39919936

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Summary

Some prior studies suggested that supplementation with carnosine or β-alanine can improve cognitive abilities and neurodegenerative disorders in certain elderly or at-risk populations. However, the efficacy of carnosine in improving cognitive performance in a healthy, adult population has not been assessed. We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987). Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk. Cognitive ability was assessed using the Cognition test battery, which consists of ten individual tests known to engage specific brain systems and covering a range of cognitive domains. Speed, accuracy, and efficiency were obtained for the whole battery as well as for each of the ten individual tests. Participant testing occurred at baseline, prior to randomization, after approximately 6wk of supplementation (Follow-up-1), and after approximately 12wk of supplementation (Follow-up-2). Of the 299 participants who were randomized, we obtained useable measures for 242 participants at Follow-up-1 and 231 at Follow-up-2. Age-based stratification (23-35 years, 36-50 years, 51-65 years), showed statistically significant improvements in overall speed and efficiency in the youngest age group stratum at both follow-up visits. This same group also demonstrated significant improvements in seven speed or accuracy scores of the individual tests. The other age groups demonstrated few or no significant improvements. Thus, in a study population largely devoid of susceptibility factors or pre-existing conditions, carnosine supplementation selectively improved high-level cognitive performance in young individuals.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine significantly improved overall cognitive speed versus placebo at the first follow-up.
In plain wordsIn participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine improved overall cognitive speed versus placebo at the first follow-up.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseOverall cognitive speed at first follow-up
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Cornstarch placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
2g daily · oral · approximately 6wkAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Age-based stratification (23-35 years, 36-50 years, 51-65 years), showed statistically significant improvements in overall speed and efficiency in the youngest age group stratum at both follow-up visits.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participant testing occurred at baseline, prior to randomization, after approximately 6wk of supplementation (Follow-up-1), and after approximately 12wk of supplementation (Follow-up-2).
Summary · context
We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987).
Summary · context
Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3991993601
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine significantly improved overall cognitive speed versus placebo at the second follow-up.
In plain wordsIn participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine improved overall cognitive speed versus placebo at the second follow-up.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseOverall cognitive speed at second follow-up
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Cornstarch placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
2g daily · oral · approximately 12wkAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Age-based stratification (23-35 years, 36-50 years, 51-65 years), showed statistically significant improvements in overall speed and efficiency in the youngest age group stratum at both follow-up visits.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participant testing occurred at baseline, prior to randomization, after approximately 6wk of supplementation (Follow-up-1), and after approximately 12wk of supplementation (Follow-up-2).
Summary · context
We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987).
Summary · context
Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3991993602
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine significantly improved overall cognitive efficiency versus placebo at the first follow-up.
In plain wordsIn participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine improved cognitive efficiency versus placebo at the first follow-up.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseOverall cognitive efficiency at first follow-up
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Cornstarch placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
2g daily · oral · approximately 6wkAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Age-based stratification (23-35 years, 36-50 years, 51-65 years), showed statistically significant improvements in overall speed and efficiency in the youngest age group stratum at both follow-up visits.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participant testing occurred at baseline, prior to randomization, after approximately 6wk of supplementation (Follow-up-1), and after approximately 12wk of supplementation (Follow-up-2).
Summary · context
We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987).
Summary · context
Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3991993603
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine significantly improved overall cognitive efficiency versus placebo at the second follow-up.
In plain wordsIn participants aged 23-35 years, carnosine improved cognitive efficiency versus placebo at the second follow-up.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseOverall cognitive efficiency at second follow-up
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Cornstarch placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
2g daily · oral · approximately 12wkAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Age-based stratification (23-35 years, 36-50 years, 51-65 years), showed statistically significant improvements in overall speed and efficiency in the youngest age group stratum at both follow-up visits.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Participant testing occurred at baseline, prior to randomization, after approximately 6wk of supplementation (Follow-up-1), and after approximately 12wk of supplementation (Follow-up-2).
Summary · context
We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987).
Summary · context
Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3991993604
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In the youngest age stratum, carnosine significantly improved seven individual speed or accuracy scores versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn the youngest participants, carnosine improved seven individual speed or accuracy scores versus placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
IncreaseIndividual cognitive test scores
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Cornstarch placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
2g daily · oral · up to 12wkAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
This same group also demonstrated significant improvements in seven speed or accuracy scores of the individual tests.
3 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Age-based stratification (23-35 years, 36-50 years, 51-65 years), showed statistically significant improvements in overall speed and efficiency in the youngest age group stratum at both follow-up visits.
Summary · context
We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987).
Summary · context
Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3991993605
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In the other age groups, carnosine produced few or no significant cognitive improvements versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn the other age groups, carnosine produced few or no significant cognitive improvements versus placebo.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
MixedCognitive performance in older strata
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Cornstarch placebo
Analysis
Secondary
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
2g daily · oral · up to 12wkAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The other age groups demonstrated few or no significant improvements.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We examined this as a post-hoc secondary outcome in the placebo-controlled, randomized Nucleophilic Defense Against PM Toxicity (NEAT) clinical trial (NCT03314987).
Summary · context
Participants in this trial were instructed to take either cornstarch (placebo) or carnosine capsules (2g daily) for up to 12wk.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3991993606

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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