Pharmacopsychiatry 2012; 45(02): 41-46
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291217
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

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

R. Ihl
1   Geriatric Psychiatry Centre, Maria-Hilf Hospital Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany
,
M. Tribanek
2   Clinical Research Department, Dr. Willmar Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Karlsruhe, Germany
,
N. Bachinskaya
3   Institute of Gerontology, Academy of Medical Sciences, Kiev, Ukraine
,
for the GOTADAY Study Group › Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

received 29. November 2010
revised 09. Juli 2011

accepted 18. Juli 2011

Publikationsdatum:
15. November 2011 (online)

Abstract

Introduction:

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.

Conclusion:

EGb 761® improved cognitive functioning, neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional abilities in both types of dementia.

 
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