Narrow Results

Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ), also known as Luweidihuang-tang in China, has been widely used as a general herbal tonic for hundreds of years in many Asian countries. This study examines whether YMJ derivatives (YMJd) enhance cognitive ability in normal human subjects and discusses its potential as treatment for dementia patients with deficient cognitive ability. Subjects were divided into two groups, the placebo-treated group (n=15) and the YMJd-treated group (n=20). K-WAIS tests, a Korean version of an individual intelligence quotient (IQ) test, and a P300 latency assessment of event-related potential (ERP) were conducted in order to measure changes in cognitive ability before and after 6 weeks of YMJd treatment. The K-WAIS mean scores of the group treated with YMJd were significantly higher than those of the placebo group (p<0.05), and their mean P300 latency was substantially shorter (p<0.005). These results suggest that YMJd treatment accelerates the speed of information processing and enhances cognitive ability. YMJd treatment may help dementia patients or the elderly recover from cognition deficiencies or degeneration in clinic.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a degenerative disease of the central nervous system, remains unclear. The main manifestations of AD include cognitive and behavioral disorders, neuropsychiatric symptoms, neuroinflammation, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. However, current drugs for AD once the dementia stage has been reached only treat symptoms and do not delay progression, and the research and development of targeted drugs for AD have reached a bottleneck. Thus, other treatment options are needed. Bioactive ingredients derived from plants are promising therapeutic agents. Specifically, Ginkgo biloba (Gb) extracts exert anti-oxidant, anticancer, neuroplastic, neurotransmitter-modulating, blood fluidity, and anti-inflammatory effects, offering alternative options in the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. The main chemical components of Gb include flavonoids, terpene lactones, proanthocyanidins, organic acids, polysaccharides, and amino acids. Gb and its extracts have shown remarkable therapeutic effects on various neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, with few adverse reactions. Thus, high-quality Gb extracts are a well-established treatment option for AD. In this review, we summarize the insights derived from traditional Chinese medicine, experimental models, and emerging clinical trials on the role of Gb and its chemical components in the treatment of the main clinical manifestations of AD.

Pre-Germinated Brown Rice May Possibly Benefit Alzheimer’s Patients.

Genetically Engineered Plants for Preventing Diabetes.

Gene Therapy — A Novel Treatment for Alzheimer’s.

Potential New Treatment for Stroke and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Institute of Biological Chemistry researchers find new protein-DNA interaction.

Medicago to receive up to US$12 million.

INEX inks partnership with BGI for new non-invasive prenatal test.

China emerging as 'major player' for pharmaceuticals.

Possible cure for dementia found by Taiwan researchers.

BGI@CHOP Joint Genome Center to offer clinical next-generation sequencing services.

Biologists at Academia Sinica develops a new molecular strategy to suppress Hepatitis C virus replication.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of genes encoding Gibberellin 20-Oxidase in Dasypyrumvillosum dwarf mutant.

AUSTRALIA – HIV trial validates novel drug mechanism.

SINGAPORE – IBN engineered artificial human livers for drug testing and discovery.

SINGAPORE – Scientists at A*STAR's Genome Institute of Singapore catch evolving germs and cancer cells early.

SINGAPORE – DocDoc and Chatter Buzz Media enter strategic partnership to launch Asia's first healthcare Content Marketing Network.

UNITED STATES – New method developed to expand blood stem cells for bone marrow transplant.

UNITED STATES – Fibrocell/UCLA study on human skin cells yields promising results.

UNITED STATES – Metal stents are effective treatment for blocked bile ducts.

UNITED STATES – Pain drug may prevent preemie lung damage.

UNITED STATES – Gene x3 helps corn grow in acidic soil.

UNITED STATES – Cancer Genetics selected by Gilead Sciences, Inc. to provide clinical trial services for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

UNITED KINGDOM – DaTSCAN™ SPECT imaging demonstrates impact on the diagnosis of patients with clinically uncertain dementia.

AFRICA – Failing vaccine strategies need to be revamped.

AFRICA – RegeneCure's membrane implant shows 40% accelerated healing time of severe bone fractures.

Is Aging a Risk Factor for Cancer?

Adverse Effects of Substance Abuse on Aging: Implication of Brain Cell Injury

Diabetes and the Elderly

The Necessity for Early Therapeutic Interventions in Dementia: The Role of Neurosteroids

INDIA – Ozone eating away Indian crop yields.

INDIA – Polio shots better than oral drops, says study.

JAPAN – Natural protein in rice helps keep arsenic out in grains.

THE PHILIPPINES – Philippines adopts inactivated polio vaccine strategy.

SINGAPORE – A*STAR's Institute of Microelectronics and Singapore Biomicro to develop a first-of-its-kind, implantable wireless blood glucose monitoring sensor device.

THAILAND – Ebola-affected countries face new threat: food crisis.

THAILAND – Fending off dengue with insecticide-treated uniforms.

AFRICA – New test to combat major cause of preventable blindness in Africa.

BANGLADESH – Arsenic linked to lung cancer in Bangladesh.

EUROPE – Human-milk-oligosaccharides can protect against noroviruses.

UNITED STATES – Researchers discover possible cause of common dementia.

UNITED STATES – Improved mouse model may accelerate research on potential Ebola vaccines and treatments.

UNITED STATES – New device yields close-up look at metastasis.

UNITED STATES – Scientists research ways to use an organism's own pathway to synthesize potential therapeutics.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS – Quality issues in herbal medicine clinical trials.

SINGAPORE – VIVA Foundation and NUS Launches $10 Million Cancer Research Centre for Childhood Leukaemia.

SINGAPORE – Discovery Paves the Way for Potential Genetics-Guided Precision Medicine for Paediatric Leukaemia Patients.

SINGAPORE – Partnership between Sony and Alder Hey Children's Hospital Drives Innovation in Children's Healthcare.

UNITED STATES – UGA Researchers Make Link between Genetics and Aging.

UNITED STATES – Latin Dancing may Have Health Benefits for Older Adults.

UNITED STATES – Interferon Not Beneficial for Most Stage III Melanoma.

UNITED STATES – Dissecting the Animal Diet, Past and Present.

UNITED STATES – Water Conservation Important to Many; Only Some Take Action.

UNITED KINGDOM – Innova Biosciences Introduces New LATEX One-Step Conjugation Kits.

UNITED KINGDOM – New Understanding of the Mechanism of Neurodegeneration Leads to a Novel Approach to Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

TAIWAN – Breakthrough in Homogeneous Antibody Development and a New Generation of Glycoarray Technology.

TAIWAN – Increasing Protein Synthesis by Leucine Ameliorates Synaptopathy Caused by Dementia, ALS and Autism.

SINGAPORE – NUS Study: Daily Consumption of Tea Protects the Elderly from Cognitive Decline.

SINGAPORE – Singapore Researchers Use Patients’ Stem Cells to Test for Side Effects of Drugs – Discovery Brings Doctors Closer to Personalized Medicine.

UNITED STATES – Diabetes in Your DNA? Scientists Zero in on the Genetic Signature of Risk.

UNITED STATES – Super Resolution Imaging Helps Determine a Stem Cell’s Future.

UNITED STATES – Wearable Biosensors Can Tell You When to See the Doctor.

AUSTRALIA – PromarkerD Predictive Diagnostics for DKD to Roll-out in Asia.

JAPAN – Enrollment Commences in Phase III Clinical Study of Eisai’s BACE Inhibitor Elenbecestat in Early Alzheimer’s Disease in Japan.

Brain aging in ASEAN.

What value-based healthcare means for Asia.

Improve healthcare access to tackle Asia’s healthcare challenge.

Emerging treatments for spinal cord damage.

Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s – Confusions, myths and tips.

An update on Alzheimer’s disease.

Integration of Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in cancer treatment.

TCM’s integration into modern health system.