Based on a preliminary study to be presented on the conference, individuals who had an ischemic stroke (brought on by a clot) recovered more quickly from stroke in the event that they were treated with intravenous injections of a mix of biologically energetic components of ginkgo biloba in the course of the first two weeks after the stroke. American Stroke Association 2024 International Stroke Conference. The meeting shall be held in Phoenix on February 7-9 and is the world’s most vital meeting for researchers and clinicians involved within the science of stroke and brain health.

Ginkgo biloba is an herb extracted from the dried leaves and seeds of the ginkgo biloba, one among the oldest living tree species present in East Asia. It’s widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and available as a complement within the US. Therapies composed of the energetic ingredients of ginkgo biloba, delivered intravenously, are widely used to treat stroke in China on account of its potential antioxidant properties, which can protect nerve cells from damage. Based on the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a division of the National Institutes of Health, ginkgo biloba has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for any medicinal uses and there’s insufficient evidence to support any non-FDA-approved use. Health.

In early 2023, investigators on this study published the outcomes of a multicenter study conducted in China that showed that individuals with ischemic stroke recovered more quickly from general stroke symptoms in the event that they were treated with every day injections of the diterpene-lactone-meglumine ginkgo biloba ( GDLM), which is a mix of biologically energetic ingredients of ginkgo biloba. The present study examined the cognitive recovery of participants on this study.

If our positive results are confirmed in other studies, GDLM injections could in the future be used to enhance cognitive function in ischemic stroke patients.”

Anxin Wang, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical epidemiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Beijing Capital Medical University

Researchers analyzed cognitive recovery in 3,163 stroke survivors (mean age, 63 years; 36% women) treated for mild to moderate ischemic stroke at 100 centers in China. Starting 48 hours after the stroke, roughly half of the stroke survivors were randomly chosen to receive every day intravenous injections of 25 mg of GDLM for 14 days, while the opposite half received every day intravenous injections of a placebo. Cognitive performance was assessed pretreatment, 14 days, and 90 days later using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), a 30-item screening test of cognitive performance often utilized in stroke survivors. At first -; Inside 48 hours of stroke and before treatment, most patients had moderate cognitive impairment, with a mean rating of 17 out of 30.

In comparison with initial cognitive screening results:

• By day 14, stroke survivors who received injections of the ginkgo biloba compound had higher cognitive scores in comparison with those that received placebo (a mean of three.93 points versus 3.62 points higher, respectively); AND
• By day 90, individuals who received an injection of the ginkgo biloba compound had even greater improvements in cognitive scores in comparison with those that received a placebo (average of 5.51 points vs. 5.04 points).

“The share of patients who achieved a clinically significant level of improvement was 20% higher within the GDLM group, indicating that GDLM injections can improve cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke,” Wang said. “Because the follow-up period on this study was only 90 days, the long-term effect of GDLM injections requires long-term study.”

“GDLM has demonstrated neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms, similar to dilating cerebral blood vessels and improving brain cell tolerance to hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) and increasing cerebral blood flow. GDLM also has neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic (cell death) effects. ) properties,” Wang said. “Moreover, laboratory studies have previously shown that GDLM can promote the secretion of chemicals related to the avoidance of neurodegenerative diseases similar to Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.”

The American Heart Association’s 2022 Scientific Statement: Complementary and Alternative Medicines for the Treatment of Heart Failure notes that complementary and alternative medicines can have some advantages but additionally potentially serious risks, so engaging your healthcare team is critical.

“While the American Heart Association statement focused on the usage of supplements in patients with heart failure, the identical approach and caution ought to be applied to the treatment of all cardiovascular diseases, including stroke,” said Sheryl L. Chow, chairwoman of the scientific statement writing committee. Pharm .D., FAHA, associate professor of pharmacy practice and administration at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, and associate professor of clinical medicine on the University of California, Irvine. “Stroke patients mustn’t take ginkgo biloba or other herbs or supplements without discussing it with their doctor and pharmacist. If the brand new research proves effective in future clinical trials, it could grow to be a precious tool in stroke care; “Nonetheless, efficacy and effectiveness would must be demonstrated, safety met the identical standards as all prescribed drugs, and FDA approval obtained.” Dr. Chow was not involved on this study.

The study was an exploratory evaluation conducted as part of a bigger study, so the outcomes require confirmation in an independent study. Results obtained in adults in China will not be generalizable to individuals in other countries.