根據紐約路透社的報導,，一份來自法國的研究顯示,，吃銀杏(Ginkgo biloba)也許能延長老人的壽命，但卻無法降低他們癡呆(dementia)的風險,。法國波爾多大學（University of Bordeaux）的科學家針對3534名年齡超過65歲的老人進行測試,，發(fā)現在13 年之間有服用銀杏的組別，其死亡率大約減少了24%,，此研究由Jean-Francois Dartigues博士主導進行,。
Dartigues研究團隊表示：「銀杏在法國銷售已超過30年之久，作為加強記憶力的功用,。迄今,，大部份的研究都集中在銀杏是否能預防老人癡呆癥的議題，但是,，老人死亡的風險似乎更高,，因此，銀杏是否能延長老人的壽命也應該列入考慮,?！寡芯孔?988年開始，有6.4%的人服用銀杏萃取物,，25.1%的人服用其它種能強化記憶功能的物質,，每兩年觀測一次受測者預防癡呆的情況。13年后,，有53.1%的人已經死亡,，17.6%的人得到癡呆癥,。
在服用安慰劑的組別(以下稱A組)中，大約有一半的人死亡,，而服用他種強化記憶功能物質(以下稱B組)以及服用銀杏(以下稱C組)的組別,，其死亡率則分別為62.1%及46.7%，而A, B, C三組受試者得到老人癡呆癥的比例則分別為15.5%, 22.4%以及21.4%,。由研究結果顯示：「銀杏在延長老人壽命的情況有顯著差異,，但卻沒有實質預防癡呆的功效?！寡芯咳藛T指出目前在美國及歐洲也有超過5800人參與類似的實驗,，結果將于2010年公布。
(資料來源 : Reuters)
英文原文:
"Memory" herb ginkgo may boost survival
Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:26PM EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A study conducted in France provides preliminary evidence that older people who take Ginkgo biloba may be extending their lives, but are not reducing their risk of dementia
Among 3,534 men and women 65 and older, those who used the herb were 24 percent less likely to die over a 13-year period than their peers who didn't take ginkgo, Dr. Jean-Francois Dartigues at the University of Bordeaux and colleagues found.
Dartigues and his team note that Ginkgo biloba extract has been sold in France for more than three decades to enhance memory. To date, they add, most studies have focused on whether the herb prevents dementia, but because older people have a much greater risk of dying, dementia-free survival should also be included as an outcome.
The researchers looked at the effect of several different dementia prevention treatments on the study participants, collecting data when the study began, in 1988, and every 2 years thereafter.
At the start of the study, 6.4 percent of the participants were taking Ginkgo biloba extract, while 25.1 percent were taking some other type of memory enhancing treatment. After 13 years, 53.1 percent had died and 17.6 percent had developed dementia.
About half of people who took no memory enhancing treatment died, compared with 46.7 percent of those taking Gingko biloba and 62.1 percent of those taking some other type of memory-boosting drug. Among those on Gingko biloba, 21.4 percent developed dementia, compared with 22.4 percent of those on other memory treatments and 15.5 percent of those who were not taking memory enhancers.
The researchers found that while the effect of the herb on mortality risk remained significant, it had no effect on the likelihood of developing dementia. People taking other memory treatments were actually at increased risk of dementia, but did not have a greater risk of dying.
These results should be interpreted carefully, the researchers note, because people taking Gingko or other memory enhancers at the beginning of the study may have been at greater risk of dementia than those who weren't taking such treatment.
"Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that Ginkgo biloba may have a beneficial effect on survival in the elderly population," they write.
The results must be confirmed in randomized, prospective clinical trials in which people taking the extract are compared to those who aren't, the researchers add. They point out that there are currently over 5,800 people taking part in such studies in the US and Europe, with results expected in 2010.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, March 2007.
