New research has reaffirmed the potential of ginkgo biloba extract to inhibit the aggregation of beta-amyloid, a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease.
The Korean Medical Biotechnology Association recently hosted a media roundtable in Seoul. At this event, Dr. Yang Young-soon, a neurologist at Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital and insurance director of the Korean Dementia Society, presented groundbreaking findings on ginkgo biloba extract’s ability to inhibit oligomerization, as demonstrated through amyloid Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
Dr. Yang’s previous study had suggested this potential using biomarkers. However, this marks the first confirmation of beta-amyloid aggregation inhibition using PET imaging, currently the most accurate diagnostic tool available.
The research team studied patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who tested positive on amyloid PET scans. They administered 240 mg of ginkgo biloba extract daily to one group, while the control group received standard cognitive aids like omega-3 and choline precursors. The study lasted 18 months, comparing clinical outcomes between the groups.
The group receiving ginkgo biloba extract showed a significant reduction in beta-amyloid deposition, the primary culprit behind dementia.
This study focused on observing changes in beta-amyloid aggregation patterns, long associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Beta-amyloid was first identified in 1906 when Dr. Alois Alzheimer discovered abnormal plaques in the brain tissue of deceased patients.
Beta-amyloid protein naturally occurs in healthy cells and plays a role in nerve cell growth and recovery. However, when damaged, these proteins clump together in brain tissue, forming toxic aggregates.
The aggregation process begins with small oligomers, progresses to amyloid fibrils, and culminates in large amyloid plaques. These plaques damage nerve cells, leading to cognitive decline, brain function disorders, and brain atrophy – hallmarks of dementia.
Unlike previous studies that used the biomarker MDS-Oaβ, this research calculated the Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) based on amyloid PET images.
While MDS-Oaβ measures oligomerization through blood samples, amyloid PET scans directly visualize amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain. This method offers superior accuracy and reliability, making it the gold standard for monitoring dementia progression.
Dr. Yang used SUVR values as indicators, which quantify clinical changes observed in PET images. Higher values indicate greater amyloid accumulation in the brain.
Results showed that the control group experienced significant increases in SUVR values across all brain regions after 18 months. In contrast, the ginkgo biloba group showed no change between initial and final measurements.
MDS-Oaβ tests revealed a decrease in protein aggregation tendency in the ginkgo biloba group. Their MDS-Oaβ values dropped significantly from 0.87±0.14 to 0.79±0.13 over the study period.
The control group, however, saw an increase in MDS-Oaβ values from 0.86±0.11 to 0.95±0.21, indicating rising aggregation despite treatment.
Dr. Yang explained that the decrease in amyloid aggregation biomarkers, coupled with PET imaging confirmation of stabilized beta-amyloid levels, provides robust evidence for ginkgo biloba’s mechanism in inhibiting beta-amyloid aggregation.
Zero Conversion Rate to Dementia, Improved Cognitive Function Scores
Ginkgo biloba extract’s effects directly translated to patients’ symptoms and cognitive functions. Remarkably, no MCI patients in the ginkgo biloba group progressed to Alzheimer’s disease after 18 months – a 0% conversion rate. This starkly contrasts with the control group, where 28.6% received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis in the same period.
The study also demonstrated stable maintenance of cognitive functions. Researchers used the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) to assess memory, attention, and daily living skills.
Results showed no significant changes in K-MMSE or CDR-SB scores for the ginkgo biloba group, with all participants maintaining cognitive stability. Conversely, 57.1% of the control group experienced cognitive decline.
Dr. Yang’s research on ginkgo biloba extract could revolutionize MCI treatment, shifting focus from symptom suppression to addressing the root causes of dementia progression.
Dr. Kim Hee-jin from Hanyang University Hospital corroborated these findings with real-world clinical cases. She emphasized the critical importance of early intervention and aggressive treatment in the initial stages of dementia.
Dr. Kim stressed that achieving substantial preventive effects requires a two-pronged approach: combining beta-amyloid-targeting drug treatments with comprehensive lifestyle improvements.