Beneficial Effects of Ginkgoselect™ Phytosome™ on Cognitive Impairment and Oxidative Stress in Mild-Moderate Dementia

Abstract

In this study, we investigated for the first time the effects of a standardized extract from Ginkgo biloba leaves formulated with phospholipids Ginkgoselect™ Phytosome™, GBP) in combination with Standard Management (SM) in mild-moderate Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), focusing on the modulation of subject’s cognitive ability and oxidative status. Participants with cognitive impairment freely decided to continue their SM protocol (donepezil 10 mg/day, rivastigmine 4.6 mg/day in patch and memantine 20 mg/day; n=37), or to receive GBP tablets 120 or 240 mg/day in combination with SM (n=43). Subjects were assessed at baseline and after 6 months for cognitive functions and exclusive mental abilities through specific neuropsychological tests, namely the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). We also evaluated the oxidative status through the determination of plasmatic derived reactive oxygen metabolites and anti-oxidant reserve through Plasma Antioxidant Test. After 6 months of supplementation with GBP to SM, subjects reported a significantly higher improvement in cognitive and neuropsychological functions, compared to those receiving only SM. Moreover, participants in the GBP with SM group reported a more remarkable decrease in oxidative load and an increase in the concentration of antioxidant molecules compared to the control group. Supplementation with GBP to SM demonstrates a positive effect in subjects with AD, helping them maintain or even increase their cognitive abilities, and improving their oxidative status both by reducing oxidative damage and by increasing the antioxidant reserve.