Abstract

EVALUATING THE COGNITIVE AND BIOCHEMICAL IMPACT OF WLTH FOCUS NOW: A RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL IN GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

*Dr. Shyam Prasad M., Dr. Ambili Aravind, Bridreth Khokhare, Dr. A. Madhavan, Arshia Pasricha

Abstract

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with cognitive impairments, impacting memory, attention, and executive function. WLTH FOCUS NOW, an herbal nutraceutical containing adaptogenic herbs, has shown potential for cognitive enhancement. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of WLTH FOCUS NOW on cognitive performance and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, a biochemical marker associated with cognitive function, in individuals with GAD. A randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted with 41 participants aged 18-60 years diagnosed with GAD. Participants were assigned to either the intervention group, receiving a daily dose of WLTH FOCUS NOW (3.5g in 150 ml of water), or a placebo group, administered for 14 days. Primary outcome was AChE activity, measured at baseline, post-intervention, and two-week followup. Secondary outcomes included cognitive assessments through the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The trial group demonstrated significant improvements in RAVLT and MoCA scores compared to the control group, indicating enhanced cognitive performance, particularly in memory and attention domains. AChE levels increased within both groups across time points, with the trial group showing a more pronounced increase post-treatment. However, between-group differences in AChE were not statistically significant. WLTH FOCUS NOW appears to positively impact cognitive function in individuals with GAD, with significant improvements observed in memory and attention. Although AChE levels increased, the lack of significant between-group differences suggests that additional research is needed to establish a direct relationship between AChE activity and cognitive changes. Further studies with larger samples are recommended to validate these findings.

Keywords: Cognitive enhancement, herbal nutraceutical, generalized anxiety disorder, acetylcholinesterase, cognitive function.