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Ginkgo biloba for mild to moderate dementia in a community setting: a pragmatic, randomised, parallel‐group, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Author(s) -
McCarney Rob,
Fisher Peter,
Iliffe Steve,
van Haselen Robbert,
Griffin Mark,
van der Meulen Jan,
Warner James
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.2055
Subject(s) - ginkgo biloba , dementia , placebo , medicine , randomized controlled trial , quality of life (healthcare) , clinical trial , psychology , pharmacology , alternative medicine , disease , pathology , nursing
Objectives Doubt over the cost‐effectiveness of the cholinesterase inhibitors in dementia has renewed interest in alternative treatments such as Ginkgo biloba. We aimed to determine the effectiveness and the safety profile of Ginkgo biloba for treating early stage dementia in a community setting. Methods We conducted a community‐based, pragmatic, randomised, double‐blind, parallel‐group trial where participants were given a standardised extract of Ginkgo biloba (120 mg daily) or a placebo control for 6 months. Our primary outcomes were cognitive functioning (ADAS‐Cog) and participant and carer‐rated quality of life (QOL‐AD). Results We recruited 176 participants, mainly through general practices. In the ANCOVA model with baseline score as a co‐variate ( n = 176), Ginkgo did not have a significant effect on outcome at six months on either the ADAS‐Cog score ( p = 0.392), the participant‐rated QOL‐AD score ( p = 0.787) nor the carer‐rated QOL‐AD score ( p = 0.222). Conclusion We found no evidence that a standard dose of high purity Ginkgo biloba confers benefit in mild‐moderate dementia over 6 months. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.