Researchers at the Università Cattolica in Milan have discovered that placebo pills improve memory and physical fitness in older adults – even when participants know they are taking an inactive preparation.
The three-week study, published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, involved 90 healthy older adults. They were randomly assigned to three groups: one group received no treatment, a second received placebo pills under the premise that it was an active dietary supplement, and the third group received the same inactive pills but was openly informed that it was a placebo.
The surprising result: Both placebo groups showed significant improvements after three weeks. Physical performance increased by 7 percent in the deceived group and by an even greater 9.2 percent in the openly informed group. Cognitive performance also improved – by 12.6 to 14.6 percent and 6.9 to 21.5 percent, respectively, depending on the test. Short-term memory particularly benefited. Stress levels decreased most significantly in participants who knew they were taking a placebo.
According to the researchers led by Professor Francesco Pagnini, these effects are comparable to those of experimental exercise or cognitive training programs. Openly labeled placebos could therefore be an ethically justifiable complement for healthy aging. The study was funded as part of the Italian Age-IT project.
Source: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore / ScienceDaily, June 25, 2026 — Barbiani D. et al., International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology
