A new study shows that healthy older adults experienced real improvements in memory, physical function, and stress levels after taking placebo pills for three weeks. The benefits occurred even when participants knew the pills were inactive. Researchers at Università Cattolica in Milan conducted the trial.
The randomized controlled trial divided 90 participants into three groups. One received no treatment. Another took deceptive placebos described as active supplements. The third group received the same inert pills but was told they were placebos that might still trigger mind-body responses.
After three weeks, both placebo groups showed gains in cognitive and physical tests. Physical performance rose by 7 percent in the deceptive group and 9.2 percent in the open-label group. Cognitive scores improved between 12.6 and 14.6 percent for those who believed the pills were real, and between 6.9 and 21.5 percent for those who knew they were placebos.
Stress levels dropped most among participants aware they were taking placebos. The findings appear in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology and were supported by PNRR grants through the Age-IT project. Lead researcher Francesco Pagnini noted that the mind plays an important role in aging processes.
