title: Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cognitive Function and Quantitative EEG in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Preliminary Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Korean red ginseng (KRG) has a nootropic effect. This study assessed the efficacy of KRG on cognitive function and quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with AD (mean age, 74.93 years; 11 women and 3 men) were recruited and treated with KRG (4.5 g per day) for 12 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed by the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). EEG performed before and after treatment were analyzed with quantitative spectral analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FAB score improved significantly after 12 weeks of treatment. In the relative power spectrum analysis performed according to responsiveness, alpha power increased significantly in the right temporal area of the responders. The increments of relative alpha power in the right temporal, parietal, and occipital areas were significantly higher in the responders than the nonresponders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates the efficacy of KRG on frontal lobe function in AD, related to increasing relative alpha power.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Seoul Medical Center , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Jae-Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Seoul Medical Center , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Seoul Medical Center , Seoul, South Korea .
authors.forename: Jeong-Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts