Walter E Müller1, Anne Eckert2, Gunter P Eckert3, Heidrun Fink4, Kristina Friedland5, Serge Gauthier6, Robert Hoerr7, Ralf Ihl8, Siegfried Kasper9, Hans-Jürgen Möller10. 1. a Department of Pharmacology , Biocenter, Goethe-University , Frankfurt/M , Germany. 2. b Neurobiological laboratory, Department of Psychiatry , Basel , Switzerland. 3. c Department of Nutritional Sciences , Justus-Liebig University , Giessen , Germany. 4. d Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology , Free University , Berlin , Germany. 5. e Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacy , University Erlangen , Erlangen , Germany. 6. f McGill Center for Studies in Aging , Montreal , Canada. 7. g Dr.Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG , Karlsruhe , Germany. 8. h Alexianer Hospital, Clinic of Geriatric Psychiatry , Krefeld , Germany. 9. i Department of Psychiatry , Medical University , Vienna , Austria. 10. j Department of Psychiatry , Ludwig-Maximilian University , Munich , Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The mitochondrial cascade hypothesis of dementia assumes mitochondrial dysfunction as an important common pathomechanism for the whole spectrum of age-associated memory disorders from cognitive symptoms in the elderly over mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's dementia. Thus, a drug such as the Ginkgo special extract EGb 761® which improves mitochondrial function should be able to ameliorate cognitive deficits over the whole aging spectrum. METHODS: We review the most relevant publications about effects of EGb 761® on cognition and synaptic deficits in preclinical studies as well as on cognitive deficits in man from aging to dementia. RESULTS: EGb 761® improves mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment over the whole spectrum of age-associated cognitive disorders in relevant animal models and in vitro experiments, and also shows clinical efficacy in improving cognition over the whole range from aging to Alzheimer's or even vascular dementia. CONCLUSIONS: EGb 761® shows clinical efficacy in the treatment of cognitive deficits over the whole spectrum of age-associated memory disorders. Thus, EGb 761® can serve as an important pharmacological argument for the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis of dementia.
OBJECTIVES: The mitochondrial cascade hypothesis of dementia assumes mitochondrial dysfunction as an important common pathomechanism for the whole spectrum of age-associated memory disorders from cognitive symptoms in the elderly over mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's dementia. Thus, a drug such as the Ginkgo special extract EGb 761® which improves mitochondrial function should be able to ameliorate cognitive deficits over the whole aging spectrum. METHODS: We review the most relevant publications about effects of EGb 761® on cognition and synaptic deficits in preclinical studies as well as on cognitive deficits in man from aging to dementia. RESULTS: EGb 761® improves mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment over the whole spectrum of age-associated cognitive disorders in relevant animal models and in vitro experiments, and also shows clinical efficacy in improving cognition over the whole range from aging to Alzheimer's or even vascular dementia. CONCLUSIONS: EGb 761® shows clinical efficacy in the treatment of cognitive deficits over the whole spectrum of age-associated memory disorders. Thus, EGb 761® can serve as an important pharmacological argument for the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis of dementia.
Authors: Margarita Labkovich; Erica B Jacobs; Siddharth Bhargava; Louis R Pasquale; Robert Ritch Journal: Asia Pac J Ophthalmol (Phila) Date: 2020 May-Jun