Dementia patients often present with behavioural and psychological symptoms, with prevalence rates reaching 90%. It is therefore important to know whether an antidementia drug that improves cognitive function can also reduce the burden of behavioural and psychological symptoms of
dementia, and whether it can improve cognitive function in patients suffering from such non-
cognitive symptoms. Therefore, three types of study with Ginkgo special extract
EGb 761 (definition see editorial) were reviewed: 1) studies on patients with impairment of cerebral function or
dementia associated with behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD); 2) studies on patients suffering from impairment of cerebral function and depression; 3)
dementia studies on patient samples with a high prevalence of BPSD. Compared to placebo,
EGb 761 improved these symptoms significantly in all studies that used a scale to measure the presence and intensity of BPSD. Moreover,
EGb 761 was found to be superior to placebo with respect to improvement in cognitive function,
daily living activities and global assessment in
dementia patients suffering from BPSD. It may be concluded that
EGb 761 is of particular interest to patients with
dementia and BPSD since it improves both the patient's cognitive ability and behavioural and psychological symptoms.