Bacopa monnieri and cognition
What 4 graded rows on bacopa monnieri agree on for cognition, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Bacopa monnieri page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Bacopa monnieri page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Bacopa monnieri and cognition
4 rows · 735 peopleSplit. 2 rows found an improvement, 1 found no difference and 1 had mixed results.
- CGrade C× 2
- DGrade D× 1
- ∅No effect× 1
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 12
- People
- 735
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a meta-analysis of 518 people (2014) and found an improvement. 1 row is graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
The 2 rows that found an improvement were larger: a median of 286 people, against 101 people for the row that found no difference.
Only the 2 rows that found an improvement include pooled reviews of several trials (1 of 2); the row that found no difference is a single study.
Only the 2 rows that found an improvement name older adults in their population.
The row that found no difference is newer (2025) than the 2 rows that found an improvement (2008 to 2014).
1 row with mixed results is left out of this comparison.
The rows
2 improved · 1 no difference · 1 mixed- CGrade CAttention speed and reaction time · Improved
Meta-analysis, 9 studies · n 518 · 2014 · Adults in 9 RCTs of standardised extracts for ≥12 weeks
Varied across trials · 12 weeks or longer
Cognition improved versus placebo, particularly speed of attention and choice reaction time.
Row on the Bacopa monnieri page · PubMed 24252493 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CDelayed word recall and attention in older adults · Improved
RCT · n 54 · 2008 · Adults 65+ without dementia
300 mg/day · 12 weeks
Delayed word recall and Stroop scores improved versus placebo; depression and anxiety scores fell.
Row on the Bacopa monnieri page · PubMed 18611150 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectVerbal learning and memory in midlife · No difference
RCT · n 101 · 2025 · Adults aged 40–70 with self-reported memory and attention problems
300 mg/day · 12 weeks
No between-group differences in the primary cognitive outcomes.
Row on the Bacopa monnieri page · PubMed 41091332 (opens PubMed)
- DGrade DCognition and sleep in mild cognitive impairment · Mixed
RCT · n 62 · 2024 · Adults with mild cognitive impairment (Iranian university trial)
160 mg extract pill (frequency not stated in the abstract) · 2 months
Attention improved vs placebo at 1 month (P = 0.033) and 2 months (P = 0.004), and verbal fluency at 2 months; the abstract reports the overall cognitive score both as unchanged and as better at 2 months (P = 0.029). Sleep quality did not change.
Row on the Bacopa monnieri page · PubMed 38538390 (opens PubMed)