Consistency across studies regarding the effects

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the future-work section and discussion and conclusions and recommendations and stated research gap of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 3 journals.

Supporting evidence — 6 representative gaps

• The effect of citicoline administration on visual function improvement in stroke patients at Prof. Dr. Chairuddin Panusunan Lubis Hospital, University of Sumatera Utara, and affiliated network hospitals (2026) · Frontiers in Medicine · doi

  Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of citicoline administration on visual function in post-stroke patients. Research is needed to compare the effects of citicoline administration with other treatments for visual impairment in post-stroke patients. Studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the potential benefits of citicoline in promoting visual recovery post-stroke.

  generalfuture-work section
  Keywords: further studies needed evaluate long-term effects citicoline administration
• Use of Citicoline in Aging Process and Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Current Clinical Evidence (2026) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi

  Clinical studies conducted in healthy older adults with age-related memory impairment have reported mixed findings regarding the effects of citicoline use on cognitive performance. Clinical studies evaluating the effects of citicoline across the spectrum of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia report findings suggesting improvement in certain cognitive domains; however, they indicate that results are inconsistent across studies.

  generaldiscussionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: cognitive clinical impairment effects citicoline across conducted healthy older adults related memory reported mixed regarding
• Use of Citicoline in Aging Process and Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Current Clinical Evidence (2026) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi

  These findings suggest that citicoline may continue to be investigated as an adjunctive approach, particularly in cognitive disorders with a vascular component or in patients in the early stages of the disease; however, there is insufficient evidence to support its routine use in clinical practice. However, a significant portion of these mechanistic inferences is based on preclinical data, and their direct translation into clinical outcomes remains uncertain. The findings from this systematic review indicate that citicoline has potentially beneficial effects on cognitive function in age-related cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and the early stages of dementia; however, the current evidence is limited, heterogeneous, and predominantly of low to moderate methodological quality. Although improvements in attention, memory, and executive function have been reported in some randomized controlled and observational studies, particularly with oral citicoline doses of 500–1000 mg/day, the consistency and generalizability of these findings are limited.

  generalconclusionsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: cognitive citicoline particularly early stages evidence clinical function limited suggest continue investigated adjunctive approach disorders
• Herbal medicine for mild cognitive impairment: Neuroimaging perspectives (2026) · World Journal of Clinical Cases · doi

  Tian J, Xie H, Qin B, Fan D, Shi J, Wang L. Chinese diagnostic guidelines of vascular mild cognitive impairment. Chin J Intern Med. (2016) 3:249–56. 20. WHO. Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia: WHO Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization (2019). 21. Brien JTO, Holmes C, Jones M, Jones R, Livingston G, McKeith I, et al. Clinical practice with anti-dementia drugs: a revised (third) consensus statement from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. J Psychopharmacol. (2017) 31:147–68. doi: 10.1177/0269881116680924 22. Herukka SK, Simonsen AH, Andreasen N, Baldeiras I, Bjerke M, Blennow K, et al. Recommendations for cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer’s evaluation of mild cognitive disease biomarkers impairment. Alzheimers Dement. (2017) 13:285–95. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2016. 09.009 in the diagnostic al. European Association of Nuclear Medicine 23. Nobili F, Arbizu J, Bouwman F, Drzezga A, Agosta F, Nestor P, and European brain in dementia: Delphi 10.1111/ene.

  generalrecommendationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: cognitive dementia diagnostic guidelines mild impairment jones association european tian wang chinese vascular chin intern
• Use of Citicoline in Aging Process and Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Current Clinical Evidence (2026) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi

  There is a lack of consistency across studies regarding the effects of citicoline on cognitive performance. There is a need for larger-scale, double-blind, and methodologically robust randomized controlled trials to draw definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of citicoline. The current clinical evidence regarding the use of citicoline in older adults and those with cognitive impairment is limited.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: there lack consistency across studies regarding effects citicoline
• Use of Citicoline in Aging Process and Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Current Clinical Evidence (2026) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi

  Larger-scale, double-blind, and methodologically robust randomized controlled trials are needed to draw definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of citicoline. Further research is needed to fully understand the therapeutic effects of citicoline and to determine its potential as a treatment for cognitive disorders. Studies with longer follow-up durations and larger sample sizes are needed to assess the long-term effects of citicoline on cognitive performance.

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 4/5
  Keywords: larger-scale double-blind methodologically robust randomized controlled trials needed

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