The effects of Huperzine A on dementia and mild cognitive impairment: An overview of systematic reviews

Cognitive impairments are a part of the neurocognitive disorders which deteriorate the normal cognitive function. An overview of systematic reviews (SRs) was conducted to summarize the findings of SRs and meta-analyses on the effectiveness of Huperzine A (Hup A) in dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A literature search was conducted since inception to December 2020. We used the AMSTAR tool to assess the methodological quality of SRs. The quality of evidence of primary studies was evaluated according to the SRs authors' assessment. Six SRs met our inclusion criteria. The results showed that Hup A has beneficial effects on cognitive function and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in Alzheimer's disease, but in vascular dementia and MCI, there was little or no evidence to conclusion. There is insufficient evidence of the effectiveness of Hup A on the quality of life and global clinical assessment. None of the SRs reported any serious side effects. Despite the promising effects of Hup A on cognition and ADLs, there is insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of Hup A in cognitive impairments due to the high heterogeneity of SRs and the low quality of primary studies. High-quality, large multicenter RCTs with long-term follow-up in different settings are warranted.