[Edaily Reporter KIM JI-WAN ] He can’t remember the name of the dessert he always used to eat. He reorders an LP he already has at home, and he can’t get the seasoning right for dishes he used to make with ease. Even the daily insulin injection his wife receives feels unfamiliar to him.

These are the changes experienced by Young-sik, the protagonist of the short film “Young-sik’s,” a joint project by JTBC and SKCHEMICALS(285130)with the participation of the Korean Academy of Dementia. Set in Seoul in 2055, the film illustrates the importance of early detection and specialized treatment for dementia through the story of a Namsung in his 60s who gradually experiences cognitive decline.

Rather than occurring suddenly one day, dementia can progress through stages such as subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) until a person finds it difficult to perform daily activities.

Early in the film, Young-sik leaves items he ordered at a café, mistakes 5:00 PM for 7:00 PM, and drives off with a cup of coffee still sitting on the dashboard. While these are mistakes anyone might make once or twice, if such behavior—different from what was expected—becomes repetitive, it’s difficult to attribute it solely to normal aging.

In the middle and later parts of the film, there are scenes where he cannot remember his children’s names or reacts as if seeing his wife’s insulin injection for the first time. There are also scenes where he is unable to get the flavor of the food he usually prepares just right. Changes in smell and taste are also among the symptoms that can appear during the progression of degenerative brain diseases.

Kim Hee-jin, a professor of neurology at Hanyang University Hospital, said, “If changes in memory or behavior that differ from usual patterns recur or begin to affect daily life, it’s important not to dismiss them as mere aging but to consult with medical professionals to assess your current condition.”

Relying on Dietary Supplements May Cause You to Miss the ‘Golden Window’

The key point emphasized by experts is the need for proactive management from the earliest stages of mild symptoms. Since dementia is linked to various risk factors—including chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as hearing loss, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, and social isolation—comprehensive management following an early diagnosis is crucial.

In its 2024 report, the Lancet Commission analyzed that managing various dementia risk factors has the potential to prevent or delay the onset of approximately 45% of dementia cases at the population level. The FINGER study also found that the group that implemented a combination of dietary changes, exercise, cognitive training, and management of vascular risk factors maintained better cognitive function than the control group.

The problem arises when people rely first on so-called “brain supplements” rather than seeking medical care after noticing memory decline.

Sales of phosphatidylserine products—a representative ingredient in health supplements targeting cognitive function—increased more than eightfold in just four years, from 6 billion won in 2021 to 50.8 billion won in 2025. However, health supplements are different from medications designed to treat diseases. Phosphatidylserine has only been recognized for its functionality in “helping to improve cognitive function impaired by aging”; it does not have any approved indications for the treatment of dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Ginkgo biloba extract is also treated differently in health functional foods versus pharmaceuticals

There are also concerns that ginkgo biloba extract should not be viewed the same way as

pharmaceuticals and health functional foods

.

Standardized ginkgo biloba extract used as a pharmaceutical has primarily been administered at doses of 200–240 mg per day in clinical studies. The Asian expert group ASCEND has also recommended at least 200 mg of standardized ginkgo biloba extract as a management option for mild cognitive impairment.

In contrast, the daily intake of ginkgo biloba extract in domestic dietary supplements is lower than this. Above all, dietary supplements are not products approved for the treatment of dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

There are also differences in quality control. For ginkgo biloba pharmaceuticals, the content of key components—such as flavonoids and terpenelactones—is regulated within specific ranges in accordance with standards like the “Republic of Korea Pharmacopoeia: Specifications for Herbal Medicines (Crude Drugs).” Health functional foods, however, are not subject to the same standards and regulatory framework as pharmaceuticals.

Therefore, experts point out that in situations where memory decline or behavioral changes recur, simply taking health functional foods and monitoring the progression may actually delay the start of professional diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Yang Young-soon of the Korean Dementia Society stated, “Health functional foods should be viewed merely as a means to supplement deficient nutrients,” adding, “If you spend your time relying on health functional foods for self-diagnosis and taking supplements, you may miss the ‘golden window’ for early detection and management of dementia.”

This is also why the film *Young-sik’s 60s* depicts Young-sik and his wife deciding to visit the hospital at the end. The message is that the starting point for dementia management lies not in “what to eat,” but in accurately assessing “the current state of one’s cognitive function.”