Ginkgo biloba doesn't help cognitive decline

By David Liu

A new trial shows that Ginkgo biloba, one of the most popular dietary supplements sold in the United States and Europe, does not seem to slow the rate of cognitive decline in study participants.

There is a catch: the study participants were at the age 72 to 96 years. One health observer suggests that the results may not be applicable to younger people or people who have diagnosed cognitive problems.  Also the efficacy of any drug depends on the dose.  It is unknown the dose of Ginkgo biloba used in the trial is optimal.

The study of 3,069 men and women led by Beth E. Snitz, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues was to determine whether Ginkgo biloba could slow the rate of cognitive decline in older adults who had normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment when entering the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study.

During the trial conducted between 2000 and 2008, the participants were randomly assigned 120 mg of a ginkgo biloba extract or a placebo twice a day for an average of 6 years.

The researchers found no evidence suggesting that ginkgo biloba has any effect on global cognitive change and specific cognitive domains of memory, language, attention, visuospatial abilities and executive functions, according to a press release by JAMA and Archives Journals.

This trial reported in the Dec 23/30 issue of Journal of American Medical Association may not have disproved all medicinal effects of Ginkgo biloba on the brain or cognitive functions.

Dr. Joe Mercola reported as early as Nov 2, 2002 on his website that a major review of 33 clinical trials by researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration in Oxford concluded that evidence is promising that dietary supplements containing the herbal medicine Ginkgo biloba can improve memory and function in people with dementia.

The review also found that the remedy appeared to be safe without excessive side effects.

There is scientific evidence suggesting that Ginkgo biloba may work to help some people to say the least.  According to Dr. Mercola, the ginkgolides found uniquely in the ginkgo tree are the biologically active components that can cause blood vessels to dilate and improve blood flow to the brain, which can boost brain activities.

Ginkgo biloba may also have some antioxidant effects that protect nerve cells against biological degeneration.

There is no cure for mild cognitive impairment, but doctors say that treatment of certain health conditions like high blood pressure or depression may help reduce cognitive decline.

Drugs that may be used to help people with cognitive decline are those used to treat Alzheimer's disease, high blood pressure and depression.