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Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in the context of current developments in the diagnosis and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease: a research perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2012

Nicola T. Lautenschlager ,
Ralf Ihl  and
Walter E. Müller
Nicola T. Lautenschlager*
Affiliation:
Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences and Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Ralf Ihl
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Alexian Hospital, Krefeld, Germany
Walter E. Müller
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Biocenter, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Nicola Lautenschlager, Professor of Psychiatry of Old Age, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Phone: +61-3-9816-0485; Fax +61-3-9816-0477. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

In June 2011 a two-day expert meeting “The Ageing Brain” took place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The main aim was to discuss the available preclinical and clinical data on Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761® in the context of current developments in the diagnosis and treatment of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. 19 dementia experts covering the disciplines bio- and neurochemistry, gerontology, neurology, pharmacology, and psychiatry from Australia, Asia, Europe and North America reviewed available preclinical and clinical data for EGb 761® and identified core topics for future research. Based on a wide range of preclinical effects demonstrated for Ginkgo biloba, EGb 761® can be conceptualized as a multi-target compound with activity on distinct pathophysiological pathways in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related cognitive decline. While symptomatic efficacy in dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been demonstrated, interpretation of data from dementia prevention trials is complicated by important methodological issues. Bridging pre-clinical research and clinical research as well as deciding on suitable study designs for future trials with EGb 761® remain important questions. The participants of the “Ageing Brain” meeting on Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761® concluded that there is plenty of promising data, both pre-clinical and clinical, to consider future research with the compound targeting cognitive impairment in old age as a worthwhile activity.

Keywords

biomarkerspreventiontrial designdementiadose responsefunctional imagingmitochondrianeurotransmissionproteasome functionpathophysiology
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Supplement S1: The aging brain: current concepts, intervention strategies and the role of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 , August 2012 , pp. S46 - S50
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2012

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