Even a Fake Supplement Can Boost Mind and Body in Older Adults

A new study from the Università Cattolica in Milan suggests that belief alone can make a real difference to health. Researchers found that older adults who took a fake supplement for just three weeks showed improvements in both physical and mental performance—even when they knew the supplement had no active ingredients.

The study, published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, involved 90 healthy older adults. They were divided into three groups: one group took no pills at all, one group took placebo pills they believed were real supplements, and a third group took placebo pills while being told clearly that the pills had no active ingredients.

Before and after the three‑week period, participants completed surveys about stress, well‑being, and fatigue, as well as tests measuring memory, attention, and physical ability.

The results were striking. Both groups taking placebo pills improved physically and mentally, but the biggest benefits were seen in people who knew they were taking a placebo. This group reported lower stress levels and showed better short‑term memory. Physical performance increased by up to 9%, and some cognitive tests improved by more than 20%.

According to the researchers, these gains are similar to those seen in studies on exercise and brain training. The findings highlight how powerful the mind can be in supporting healthy aging and suggest that open‑label placebos—fake treatments taken knowingly—could be a simple and ethical way to improve quality of life in older adults.

Reference

Diletta Barbiani et al, 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). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2026.100673