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Cohort: Gingko Evaluation of Memory Study
Website: http://www.carlsonlab.org/#!ginkgo-evaluation-of-memory-study/c23j7
Risk Factors: Statin use

Introduction to the Cohort
The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study is a double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, which enrolled 3,069 participants of ages 75 and older with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants with dementia were excluded from the study. The trial was conducted from 2000 to 2008. From September 2000 to June 2002 using voter registration and other mailing lists, recruitment occurred in 4 U.S. clinical sites: Hagerstown, MD (Johns Hopkins University); Pittsburgh, PA (University of Pittsburgh); Winston-Salem/Greensboro, NC (Wake Forest University); and Sacramento, CA (University of California-Davis).

The participants were required to have proxies, who were interviewed every 6 months; the participants themselves were also followed up every 6 months, with a median follow-up period of 6.1 years.

At enrollment, members of the cohort were, on average 79.1 years old; 54% of participants were male.

Ethnicity Breakdown
Approximately 95% of the cohort members were white.

Diagnosis & Evaluation Methods
For a detailed description, see DeKosky, et al. 2008.

References
Bettermann K, Arnold AM, Williamson J, Rapp S, Sink K, Toole J. Statins, risk of dementia and cognitive function: Secondary analysis of the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 2012; 21(6):436-44. PMID: 21236699

DeKosky ST, Williamson JD, Fitzpatrick AL, Kronmal RA, Ives DG, Saxton JA, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Investigators.Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2008;300(19):2253-62. PMID: 19017911

Kuller LH, Ives DG, Fitzpatrick AL, Carlson MC, Mercado C, Lopez OL, Burke GL, Furberg CD, DeKosky ST, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Investigators. Does ginkgo biloba reduce the risk of cardiovascular events? Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 2010;3(1):41-7. PMID: 20123670

Snitz BE, O'Meara ES, Carlson MC, Arnold AM, Ives DG, Rapp SR, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Investigators. Ginkgo biloba for preventing cognitive decline in older adults: a randomized trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 2009;302(24):2663-70. PMID: 20040554

Yasar S, Lin F, Fried LP, Kawas CH, Sink KM, DeKosky ST, Carlson MC, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Investigators. Diuretic use is associated with better learning and memory in older adults in the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2012;8(3):188-95. PMID: 22465175

Yasar S, Xia J, Yao W, Furberg CD, Xue QL, Mercado CI, Fitzpatrick AL, Fried
LP, Kawas CH, Sink KM, Williamson JD, DeKosky ST, Carlson MC, Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Investigators. Antihypertensive drugs decrease risk of Alzheimer disease: Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. Neurology 2013;81(10):896-903. PMID: 23911756