Two recent studies support earlier research on the use of ginkgo
for improving cognitive function, particularly in older people with
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Seniors with dementia scored better on memory tests and had other improvements. In the first, researchers from Ukraine enlisted 400 patients with
dementia in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 22-week
study. They found that treatment with a gingko biloba extract (240 mg per
day) to be associated with improvements in scores for a simple and
short test for assessing cognitive impairment of memory and attention
(SKT test) and neuropsychiatric symptoms. In addition, care giver
distress scores were reduced significantly among care givers of patients
in the ginkgo group, as compared to a worsening found among care givers
of patients on the placebo. The researchers reported significant
differences between the ginkgo and placebo groups in terms of
apathy/indifference, anxiety, irritability/lability,
depression/dysphoria,and sleep/nighttime behavior. They say the results
suggest that supplementing with an extract of gingko biloba may benefit
patients with dementia.
In a second study by German researchers, 404 patients with mild to
moderate dementia (333 with Alzheimer’s disease and 71 with vascular
dementia) supplemented with the same type and dose of gingko biloba
extract for a period of 6 months. Similarly, the herb was found to
improve cognitive functioning, non-cognitive symptoms, and functional
abilities. Patients treated with the gingko had improvements on the SKT
cognitive test battery as compared to deterioration or no change
inpatients on placebo. Scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
also improved in patients taking the supplement, compared to either a
slight deterioration or only slight improvement in placebo patients. The
researchers say that supplementation with gingko may be of benefit to
patients with mild to moderate dementia due to either vascular dementia
or Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: Wien Med Wochenschr,2007;157(13-14):295-300; Alzheimer’s and Dementia, July 2008
