Sage for Cognitive Function

Research suggests that sage — particularly combinations of Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulaefolia — may support cognitive function, with a mouse study finding that a two-week supplementation period improved spatial learning and memory alongside increased expression of CaM kinase II, a protein associated with learning processes. A 2019 review of plant-derived compounds similarly noted that terpene-containing herbs like sage showed more consistent evidence of enhancing cognitive function and alertness compared to other phytochemical categories, though the authors characterized the overall evidence base as still developing and called for further investigation. The available human-relevant evidence for sage specifically remains limited, consisting primarily of animal studies and narrative reviews rather than randomized controlled trials in humans, which means conclusions about its effects on human cognition cannot yet be drawn with confidence. It is also worth noting that a number of studies included in this collection address cognitive function broadly — examining factors like atrial fibrillation management, hearing loss, brain stimulation, and social support — but do not involve sage or any related intervention, and therefore do not contribute meaningful evidence for or against sage's role in cognitive health.