[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 used to give him feels unfamiliar.

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 man 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) before reaching a point where performing daily activities becomes difficult.

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 unusual behavior repeats itself, 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 your usual patterns recur or begin to affect daily life, it is 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 associated with various risk factors—including chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, hearing loss, alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise, and social isolation—early diagnosis followed by comprehensive management 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 is that people often rely on so-called “brain supplements” before seeking medical care after noticing memory decline.

Sales of phosphatidylserine products—a representative ingredient in health supplements related to 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 pharmaceuticals, which treat diseases. Phosphatidylserine has only been recognized for its functionality in “helping to improve cognitive function impaired by aging”; it does not have any indications for the treatment of dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Ginkgo biloba extract is

also

treated differently in health functional foods versus pharmaceuticals

Experts point out that ginkgo biloba

extract

should not be viewed the same way

in health functional foods as

it is in

pharmaceuticals

.

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 health functional foods is lower than this. Above all, health functional foods 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 the “Republic of Korea Pharmacopoeia: Specifications for Herbal Medicines (Crude Drugs)” and other relevant standards. Health functional foods, however, are not subject to the same specifications 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 way to supplement deficient nutrients,” adding, “If you rely on these products for self-diagnosis and spend your time 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.”

Meanwhile, SKCHEMICALS’ over-the-counter medication “Ginexin F Tablets 240 mg” is a high-dose formulation containing 240 mg of dried ginkgo biloba extract. It has been approved for its efficacy in improving cognitive decline accompanied by symptoms such as reduced concentration, memory loss, and dizziness. The product is taken once daily at a dose of 240 mg. Clinical literature has also reported that administering 240 mg of dried ginkgo biloba extract results in significant improvement compared to a placebo in patients with dementia accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms.