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Posted on Sep 25, 2002, 2 p.m.
By Bill Freeman
The dietary supplement gingko biloba has long been heralded as a simple and effective way of improving memory and optimizing mental performance. Recent research however, has found that the supplement may be of no benefit to elderly patients who take it to protect against memory loss. A study of more than 200 patients with dementia or age-associated memory loss found that those given the extract performed no better in mental performance tests than those given a placebo.
The dietary supplement gingko biloba has long been heralded as a simple and effective way of improving memory and optimizing mental performance. Recent research however, has found that the supplement may be of no benefit to elderly patients who take it to protect against memory loss. A study of more than 200 patients with dementia or age-associated memory loss found that those given the extract performed no better in mental performance tests than those given a placebo. The researchers concluded that the use of ginkgo biloba to treat older patients with mild to moderate dementia or age-associated memory impairment is ineffective, regardless of the dose.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2000; 48: 1183-1194.
