[A comparison of cholinesterase inhibitors and ginkgo extract in treatment of Alzheimer dementia].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of second-generation cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, metrifonate) with that of the special ginkgo extract EGb 761R in Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Analysis of the effect on cognition with the aid of the ADAS-cog.scale, placebo-adjusted, within six months; statistical evaluation of the effect using the confidence interval for the potential mean improvement.


RESULTS
All medications are statistically significantly superior to placebo. The mean improvement is larger for the cholinesterase inhibitors than for the ginkgo extract. In the statistically unfavorable case, the effect of the cholinesterase inhibitors is still appreciable, but not for the ginkgo extract.


CONCLUSIONS
Until the results of direct comparative studies are available, the present results indicate a superior effect of cholinesterase inhibitors over the ginkgo extract in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Schreiter Gasser
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U
Gerontopsychiatrisches Zentrum Hegibach, Zürich.
Gasser
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T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002219:Carbamates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077265:Donepezil; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D014236:Trichlorfon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D002219:Carbamates; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D000077265:Donepezil; D007189:Indans; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D010880:Piperidines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D014236:Trichlorfon; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract