‘Very promising’: Chinese herbal medicine trial offers new hope in memory loss treatment

Australian phase 2 clinical trial of Sailuotong shows memory and executive function improvements in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Patients with MCI have increased risk of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease or other brain disorders

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Capsules containing a blend of Ginkgo biloba, ginseng and saffron extracts - called Sailuotong - have shown promise in improving memory and other functions in people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 7:00pm, 11 Oct 2023Updated: 7:42pm, 11 Oct 2023

A phase 2 clinical trial in Australia has found that a Chinese herbal medicine compound significantly improved memory and executive functions in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

People diagnosed with MCI can experience early stage memory loss or declines in other cognitive abilities such as language, according to the Chicago-based Alzheimer’s Association.

Patients with MCI have an increased risk of dementia – more than fivefold in some cases – which can be a precursor to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in particular.

Currently, there are no approved medications for MCI. Existing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are not considered safe or effective.

“We know that it is a critical window of opportunity for early intervention to potentially delay or prevent dementia,” said cognitive neuroscientist Genevieve Steiner-Lim, an associate professor at Western Sydney University, who led the trial of the compound named Sailuotong (SLT).

“Our findings are very promising as they show that even after a relatively short period of just 12 weeks, SLT can support memory and thinking in people with MCI,” said Steiner-Lim, who is also a fellow at the university’s NICM Health Research Institute.

SLT is a modern Chinese herbal medicine taken in capsule form that contains extracts of ginseng, Ginkgo biloba and crocus sativus L, commonly known as saffron.