Modulation of Attention in Event Related Potential (ERPs) as a Marker of Early Cognitive Decline by Ginkgo Biloba

Overview

The objective of this study is to simultaneously establish the metrological characteristics of the new executive function markers (decision making and multiple flow management) derived from repeated ERP variations and to identify their ability to test whether a short treatment using Ginkgo biloba versus placebo extracts can modify the cognitive performance and functional capacity of patients in the very early stages of age-related cognitive decline. This trial, using subjects as their own control (cross-over) in repeated measurements will establish the reproducibility characteristics of the measurements and intra-individual variations of ERP over time in this population

This study is a single-center, randomized clinical trial testing the effects of Ginkgo biloba extracts versus placebo on event related potential ERP registration measurements in Electroencephalography (EEG) during neuropsychological tasks. The Hold-Release (HR) neuropsychological test allows the study of behavioral and neurofunctional correlates using several different techniques for online recording of brain activity. This test measures the engagement of focused attention and the loading of information into working memory, as opposed to the disengagement of attention. The study will be carried out in a randomized cross-over design, with "Ginkgo" vs. Placebo", or inversely, for 170 days each (approximately 6 months), separated by an 8-weeks wash-out period. A follow-up visit will be held 3 months after the last treatment of the study. The cross-over design uses each patient as its own control, which allows an easy comparison between the 2 groups "Placebo" vs. "Ginkgo" by limiting inter-patient variations. In addition, by doubling the number of patients per treatment compared to a classic study design in 2 groups, cross-over reduces the number of patients to be recruited, which facilitates recruitment on a single site. The study requires the recruitment of sixteen (16) informative participants with cognitive complaints.