A fake pill, even one people knew was fake, gave older adults real boosts in memory, movement, and stress levels after just three weeks. This surprising finding comes from new research by psychologists at the Università Cattolica in Milan.
The study found that healthy older adults showed measurable improvements in memory, physical performance, and stress. This happened after they took placebo pills for only three weeks.
Testing the Placebo Effect
Researchers wanted to see if a traditional placebo could affect abilities that naturally decline with age. Professor Francesco Pagnini explained their goal was to see if an "open-label placebo" (where people know it's a placebo) or a "fake supplement" (where people don't know) could help older adults.
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Start Your News DetoxThey recruited 90 healthy older adults for the study. These participants were split into three groups. One group received no treatment. Another group took placebo pills but was told the pills had active ingredients. The third group took the same inactive pills but was openly told they were placebos. This group was also told that placebos could still trigger beneficial mind-body responses.
Before and after the three-week study, participants filled out questionnaires. These asked about stress, well-being, sleepiness, fatigue, optimism, and self-efficacy. They also took tests for short-term memory, selective attention, and physical performance.
Real Improvements in Memory and More
After three weeks, the group that knowingly took placebo pills had lower stress levels. This was compared to both the group that thought they were taking a real supplement and the control group. They also showed big improvements in short-term memory compared to those who received no intervention.
Both placebo groups saw gains in cognitive and physical performance. The strongest improvements were often seen in participants who knew they were taking a placebo.
Physical performance went up by 7% in the deceptive placebo group. It increased by 9.2% in the open-label placebo group. Cognitive performance also got better. Depending on the test, scores improved by 12.6% to 14.6% for those who thought they were taking a real supplement. For those who knowingly took a placebo, scores improved by 6.9% to 21.5%.
Professor Pagnini noted these effects are significant. They are similar to improvements seen in studies on physical activity and cognitive training, especially for memory. Researchers also observed less drowsiness. Stress levels improved most for those who knew they were taking a placebo.
A New Path for Healthy Aging
These findings suggest that placebo treatments can improve several functions in older adults. Open-label placebos worked as well as, or sometimes better than, deceptive placebos. This makes open-label placebos a promising and ethical way to support healthy aging.
Professor Pagnini said these results add to evidence that the mind plays a key role in aging. Thoughts, emotions, and how people see themselves can affect psychological well-being, physical abilities, and cognitive function. This highlights the strong connection between the mind and body.
Deep Dive & References
Placebo mechanisms in aging: A randomized controlled trial comparing deceptive and open-label placebos on psychological, cognitive, and physical functioning in older adults - International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 2026
