Effect of Choline Alfoscerate on Cognitive Dysfunction After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single-Center Prospective Case-Control Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of choline alfoscerate on the recovery of cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Methods: Patients with mild traumatic brain injuries were included. The Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) was used to evaluate cognitive function. The K-MMSE was performed on the 7th day post-trauma. The patients were divided into the choline and control groups (15 subjects). The choline group was administered choline alfoscerate (400 mg) twice daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the K-MMSE was administered to both groups, and the results were compared with those before treatment.

Results: Thirty patients (15 each in the choline and control groups) were enrolled between November 2013 and March 2015. The mean ages were 64.2±12.1 and 63.7±16.8 years for the choline and control groups, respectively. The K-MMSE scores on the 7th day post-trauma were 21.7±6.2 and 25.1±4.3 for the choline and control groups, respectively. The K-MMSE scores at 9 weeks post-trauma were 24.1±5.1 and 25.7±4.4 for the choline and control groups, respectively. The change in cognitive function during the 8-weeks was 2.5±2.1 and 0.5±0.9 for the choline and control groups, respectively. The choline group showed greater cognitive improvement than the control group (p=0.004).

Conclusion: Choline alfoscerate improves cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injuries.