Ginkgo biloba and placebo: no difference!
In the latest issue of JAMA magazine (2009;302(24):2663-2670) The results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the effectiveness of ginkgo biloba in slowing cognitive decline in adult patients have been published (Beth E. Snitz et al., Ginkgo biloba for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. A Randomized Trial).
The study included 3,069 patients aged 72 to 96 years, it was conducted on the basis of six academic medical centers in the United States from 2000 to 2008 with an average follow-up period of 6.1 years. Patients received 120 mg of plant extract (EGb 761; Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, Karlsruhe, Germany) twice a day or a placebo identical in appearance. The first group numbered 1,545 people, the second – 1,524.
The results of the analysis showed that cognitive functions faded in both groups at the same rate for all the parameters studied, including:
- memory (0.043 z-points; 95% AI 0.034-0.051 vs. 0.041 z-points; 95% AI 0.032-0.050),
- attention (0.043; 95% AI 0.037-0.050 vs. 0.048; 95% AI 0.041-0.054),
- visual-spatial abilities (0.107; 95% AI 0.097-0.117 vs. 0.118; 95% AI 0.108-0.128),
- speech (0.045; 95% AI 0.037-0.054 vs. 0.041; 95% AI 0.033-0.048),
- motor functions (0.092; 95% AI 0.086-0.099 vs. 0.089; 95% AI 0.082-0.096).
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru according to the materials Ukrainian Medical online magazine11.01.2010