Association of Alzheimer's disease onset with ginkgo biloba and other symptomatic cognitive treatments in a population of women aged 75 years and older from the EPIDOS study.

Background: Peripheral C4A treatment (cerebral and peripheral vasotherapeutics) and especially Ginkgo biloba extracts are prescribed for a number of symptoms, particularly memory impairment, in elderly patients. It is postulated that because of its pharmacological actions, this treatment could prevent the decline of cognitive function, but no studies have been published to date to test its efficacy in prevention of Alzheimer's disease. The potential association between use of C4A treatments, in particular EGb 761 (standardized Ginkgo biloba extracts), and dementia of the Alzheimer type was investigated.

Body composition in French women 75+ years of age: the EPIDOS study.

Background: There are presently no published data on age-related changes in body composition in French individuals older than 65 or 80 years. This paper presents a cross-sectional study of 7518 community-residing French women older than 75 years.

Methods: We examined age differences changes in body composition and anthropometry between age groups (76-80, 81-85, and 86-95 years of age).

Is there a relationship between fat-free soft tissue mass and low cognitive function? Results from a study of 7,105 women.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that low fat-free soft tissue mass and cognitive impairment are independently associated.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Five geographic areas of France.

Predictive factors of acute hospitalization in 134 patients with Alzheimer's disease: a one year prospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of and determine predictive factors for acute hospitalization in a prospective study of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Design: A one year prospective study.

Participants: 134 patients recruited from the memory clinic in Toulouse University Hospital, with AD diagnosed using the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria.