Doença de alzheimer e ginkgo biloba

The increase in life expectancy brings an increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases, such as dementia. Among the types of dementia, the most common, responsible for more deaths in developed countries and Brazil's most prevalent disease is Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disease, where there is cerebral atrophy, deposits of senile plaques, and neural loss that compromises the areas of cognition, function, and behavior. Over time the symptoms become more intense, making the activities of daily life unfeasible. The course of the disease, from the onset of signs to death, is up to 10 years. Its cause is not yet fully understood, but it is known that multiple factors predispose its appearance, such as age, gender, and genetic factor. Although there is no cure for AD, several natural products have been studied to prevent the onset or delay the progression of dementia. This review aims to analyze the utility of using Ginkgo biloba extract in these cases. Ginkgo biloba (Gb) is a phytotherapy indicated for cognitive disorders and AD, due to its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic properties and inhibitory effects of caspase-3 activation and beta-amyloid aggregation.