Can a food preservative boost brain power in Alzheimer's?

NCT ID NCT05006781

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether adding sodium benzoate (a common food preservative) to brain stimulation therapy can improve thinking and memory in people with early Alzheimer's or mild cognitive impairment. 140 participants will receive two weeks of brain stimulation and then 24 weeks of either the drug or a placebo. The goal is to see if the combination works better than stimulation alone.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: sodium benzoate
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a new combination therapy to slow cognitive decline in early Alzheimer's disease.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial that is currently suspended. The drug is a common food preservative, and its benefit for Alzheimer's is unproven. Results may not lead to a treatment.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ALZHEIMER DISEASE are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Alzheimer disease dementia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEMENTIA TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Kaohsiung City, 886, Taiwan

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.