A study shows that a Chinese herb improves the symptoms of vascular dementia.

Although there are effective treatments available for dementia, they may not be of much help to people in China - because they are thought too expensive. China has a long tradition of herbal medicine, however, and there's increasing interest in subjecting some of these remedies to scientific scrutiny.

Researchers at the Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, now report upon the effects of gastrodine, a herbal remedy, in vascular dementia. A group of 120 stroke patients who had been diagnosed with mild to moderate vascular dementia were given either gastrodine, or other Chinese herbal remedies for 12 weeks.

After this time, there were clear improvements in memory, orientation, calculation and language skills in all groups. But those on gastrodine also did better in activities of daily living. The researchers believe that gastrodine may improve blood flow to the brain. More research is still needed, but it looks as if gastrodine may be a promising approach for those with vascular dementia.

Source

American Heart Association Asia Pacific Meeting 10th June 2003