title: Efficacy and tolerability of a once daily formulation of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: results from a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A 24-week randomised controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of a 240 mg once-daily preparation of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in 404 outpatients ≥ 50 years diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia (SKT 9-23), Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD), with neuropsychiatric features (NPI total score ≥ 5).
  
  
  METHODS
  Separate analyses were performed for diagnostic subgroups (probable or possible AD; VaD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  333 patients were diagnosed with AD and 71 with VaD. EGb 761® treatment was superior to placebo with respect to the SKT total score (drug-placebo differences: 1.7 for AD, p<0.001, and 1.4 for VaD, p<0.05) and the NPI total score (drug-placebo differences: 3.1 for AD, p<0.001 and 3.2 for VaD, p<0.05). Significant drug-placebo differences were found for most secondary outcome variables with no major differences between AD and VaD subgroups. Rates of adverse events in EGb 761® and placebo groups were essentially similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGb 761® improved cognitive functioning, neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional abilities in both types of dementia.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Psychiatry Centre, Maria-Hilf Hospital Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany. ralf.ihl@alexianer-krefeld.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ihl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tribanek
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bachinskaya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract