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Several drugs are currently being tested for their ability to slow the progress of AD. These include acetyl-l-carnitine, which acts on the cellular energy structures known as mitochondria; propentofylline, which may aid circulation; milameline, which acts similarly to tacrine and donezepil; and ginkgo extract.
Ginkgo extract, derived from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree, interferes with a circulatory protein called platelet activating factor. It also increases circulation and oxygenation to the brain. Ginkgo extract has been used for many years in China and is widely prescribed in Europe for treatment of circulatory problems. A 1997 study of patients with dementia seemed to show that gingko extract could improve their symptoms, though the study was criticized for certain flaws in its method.
— Richard Robinson
