Ye L, Wang Z, Kim Y, Elias PM, Li T, Wen S, Song J, Lv C, Yang B, Man MQ. A Topical Emollient Mitigates the Progression of Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: A Randomized, Open-Label Pilot Trial.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022;
36:1382-1388. [PMID:
35442543 DOI:
10.1111/jdv.18162]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cognitive impairment is common in the elderly. Prior studies suggest a link between chronic inflammation and cognitive dysfunction, while aging-associated epidermal dysfunction has been connected to elevations in circulating cytokines.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed here whether improvements in epidermal function can mitigate the progression of cognitive impairment.
METHODS
This randomized, open-label pilot trial was carried out in two cities in northern China. A total of 200 participants aged ≥65 years were randomly assigned to the emollient-treated and untreated groups at 1:1 ratio. Participants in the treated group were treated topically with Atopalm cream® twice-daily from November to the following May each year for three consecutive years, while the untreated subjects served as controls. The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) was used to assess the severity of cognitive impairment, while epidermal biophysical properties were measured on the forearms and the shins in parallel.
RESULTS
Over the three-year trial, GDS significantly increased from baseline (p<0.0001) in the controls, while in the treated group, GDS stabilized. While stratum corneum hydration on the forearms did not change significantly in the controls, transepidermal water loss rates (TEWL), significantly increased by the end of the trial compared to baselines in the controls (p<0.0001). On the forearms of the treated group, stratum corneum hydration increased (p<0.0001) while skin surface pH decreased from baseline (p<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollient can mitigate the progression of cognitive impairment. However, the sample size was relatively small, and trials in a larger cohort are needed to validate the present results.
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