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Ginkgo Biloba Found Useless Against Dementia

-November 19, 2008

The herbal supplement ginkgo biloba is used by millions of older Americans — often at the suggestion of their physicians or other healthcare providers — to help prevent dementias such as Alzheimer's disease, and for "normal" memory loss that may accompany aging. However, the latest issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) presents a study showing that these efforts are probably useless.

Another study examining the effects of ginkgo biloba revealed it may increase the risk of stroke.

Largest Study of Its Kind to Date
The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study described in JAMA was much bigger and lasted much longer than any previous ginkgo biloba trial. University of Pittsburgh researchers spearheaded the study. Study details include:

• Examined 3,069 volunteers aged 75 and older over an average period of six years
• Half of the subjects took 120 mg of ginkgo biloba twice a day
• The other subjects took a placebo

Both the ginkgo-takers and the placebo-takers — and the study's staff — were not informed as to which treatment was being administered.

No Benefits of Gingko Biloba Use
It was found that the incidence of Alzheimer's was not significantly different in the two groups by the end of the study period:

• 3.3 cases per 100 subjects in the ginkgo group
• 2.9 per 100 in the placebo group

In addition, the ginkgo biloba had no effect on the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.

Nearly $250 Million in Ginkgo Sales
Sales of gingko biloba in the U.S. reached $249 million in 2006, as millions of "baby boomers" reached the age where they start to worry about fading cognitive function. Many MDs and other healthcare professionals have okayed their patients' use of gingko biloba on the theory that it's a harmless supplement that may help prevent or slow the progression of dementia.

Possible Increased Risk of Stroke
However, in an editorial in the same issue of JAMA, neurology professor Lon S. Schneider, MD describes earlier trials of ginkgo biloba indicating that its use is accompanied by a slight increase in the risk of strokes, and he contends that the GEM findings argue against the use of ginkgo for preventing dementia.

(Source: Web MD)

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