Ginkgo Biloba - A Bust for Alzheimer's and Dementia Prevention

Ginkgo biloba had such promise for preventing Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The story was great: Take the leaves from the ginkgo tree and create extracts and pills. Take those every day and your brain will be protected against aging, dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The story grew some character, too, after you found out that the ginkgo species of trees is one of the oldest tree species in the world. There's just something about ginkgo (maybe how fun the word is to say) that captivated us. Millions of people took ginkgo as a way of protecting memories and an aging brain.

The Bad News: Ginkgo Biloba Doesn't Prevent Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

I really hate being the one to bring out bad news. I would like it nothing more if ginkgo biloba had the solution to dementia and Alzheimer's disease. I would love it if that solution came from nature and a source that was used in traditional medicine for centuries. But, unfortunately, it doesn't work, says a 2008 study.

The Study: 3,100 Adults Over Age 75 Give Ginkgo a Try

This was a really nice study on the effect of ginkgo on dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers managed to get 3,100 adults over the age of 70 to take either a twice daily dose of 120 milligrams of ginkgo biloba extract or a twice daily placebo. Study participants were assessed at the beginning of the study and every six months for dementia and other signs of brain aging. On average, people were in the study for 6 years.

Over the 6-year period, 523 developed dementia (92% of which were Alzheimer's disease or probable Alzheimer's disease). For the people taking the ginkgo biloba extract, the rate of dementia/Alzheimer's was no different than in the placebo group. In other words, it had no impact on dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, on of America's most prestigious medical journals.

The Bottom Line on Gingko Biloba

It didn't prevent people in this study from becoming diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. There are, however, other studies (not as large and not as well done) that suggest taking gingko biloba can improve memory and brain function. Overall, ginkgo biloba seems safe to take. If you want to give it a try anyway, it's recommended that you consult your healthcare provider before starting this or any supplement.

My opinion? Instead of taking ginkgo biloba to reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, my guess is that you will be better off focusing on your overall health, especially controlling your blood pressure. Having poor cardiovascular health certainly puts the brain at risk for stroke and other problems. So if you want to protect your brain, keep your heart and arteries healthy.

_Source(s):

Ginkgo biloba for Prevention of Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Steven T. DeKosky, Jeff D. Williamson, Annette L. Fitzpatrick, Richard A. Kronmal, Diane G. Ives, Judith A. Saxton, Oscar L. Lopez, Gregory Burke, Michelle C. Carlson, Linda P. Fried, Lewis H. Kuller, John A. Robbins, Russell P. Tracy, Nancy F. Woolard, Leslie Dunn, Beth E. Snitz, Richard L. Nahin, Curt D. Furberg, and for the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Investigators. JAMA. 2008;300(19):2253-2262.