Ginkgo biloba helps people with dementia

By David Liu

Ginkgo biloba extract preparations may not help prevent cognitive decline in elderly people who have no cognitive problems or mild cognitive impairment, according to a new study reported in the Dec 23/30 issue of Journal of American medical Association.

The trial study led by Beth E. Snitz, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues showed taking a ginkgo biloba extract did not seem to have any effect on global cognitive change and specific cognitive domains of memory, language, attention, visuospatial abilities and executive functions in elderly people.

In the trial conducted between 2000 and 2008, 3,069 men and women aged 72 to 96 were randomly given 120 mg of the herbal remedy or a placebo twice a day for an average of six years. The researchers found no evidence to suggest that taking ginkgo biloba extract may prevent cognitive decline.
 
It remains unknown whether the findings are applicable to people in other age groups. And also it is unknown whether the dose of the herbal supplement used in the trial is optimal.  Many trials have shown that ginkgo biloba helps people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
 
Dr. Joe Mercola, owner of mercola.com, reported on Nov 2, 2002 that a major review of 33 clinical trials by researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration in Oxford concluded that evidence is promising that dietary supplements with the herbal medicine Ginkgo biloba can improve memory and function in people with dementia. The remedy appeared to be safe without excessive side effects, according to the review.

A recent review of 10 randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trials led by Austrian scientists and published in the Sept 2009 issue of Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie indicates that Ginkgo biloba extract is at least as effective as commonly prescribed drugs in treating dementia.

Photo from wikipedia