Journal of Ginseng Research

The Korean Society of Ginseng (고려인삼학회)
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Cognitive improvement by ginseng in Alzheimer's disease

  • Lee, Soon-Tae (Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Chu, Kon (Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Jeong-Min (Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Park, Hyun-Jeong (Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Man-Ho (Department of Neurology, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University, Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital)
  • Published : 2007.03.31
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Abstract

Ginseng shows protective and trophic effects in neurodegenerative diseases in experimental models, and showed cognitive improvement in normal population. To investigate the efficacy of ginseng in patients with Alzheimer's disease, patients, who met NINDS-ADRDA criteria for AD were studied Subjects were randomly assigned to ginseng group and control group, and ginseng group was treated with Korean white ginseng powder (4.5 g/day) for 12 weeks. Efficacy variables included changes in mini-mental status exam (MMSE) and cognitive subscales of Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS-cog) at 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Baseline MMSE and ADAS scores showed no difference between the two groups. Results showed that ginseng improved ADAS-cog compared to the control group at 12 weeks (p<0.05). MMSE was also increased by ginseng treatment compared to the control at 12 weeks (p<0.01). This study suggests the symptomatic efficacy of ginseng in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

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References

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