Ginkgo biloba ineffective in slowing cognitive decline

Ginkgo biloba, the oldest living tree species, has been extensively used as traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and improve memory. In fact, the herbal product is among the best-selling herbal medications in Europe and United States to treat cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Ginkgo leaves are believed to have antioxidant properties, which scavenge free radicals that occur naturally in the body. Free radicals are the damaging compounds in the body that alter membranes, DNA etc.

These antioxidant properties improve blood flow to the brain, improving thinking, learning, and memory in people.

Ginkgo, widely touted as ‘brain herb’, is claimed to be more effective than placebo in enhancing cognitive ability. Therefore, it is commonly added to diet to improve cognitive abilities.

Ginkgo biloba ineffective
But a latest study named ‘Ginkgo Biloba for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Older Adults’, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, has found that ginkgo biloba extract is ineffective.

In order to determine if the herbal product slows the rates of cognitive decline in older adults, the lead researcher, Steven T. DeKosky, MD, from University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, looked at the results from The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study.

The GEM study included a clinical trial of 3069 community-dwelling participants aged 72 to 96 years, conducted between 2000 and 2008.

The participants were healthy and consumed 120 milligrams of ginkgo or placebo twice daily.

Over the period of six years, researchers found no evidence “for an effect of G biloba on global cognitive change and no evidence of effect on specific cognitive domains of memory”.

Further, it was noted that ginkgo was safe and it did not have serious side effects. The results were same regardless of age, gender, race and education.

Though the study contradicts that the use of ginkgo biloba prevents cognitive decline, there are certain limitations. It lacks in terms of effect on long-term cognitive functioning.

Also, the subjects were aged 70 and above. Therefore it is not clear if ginkgo's effect on the brain may be more profound if introduced at an early age.

Medical uses of ginkgo biloba
Apart from being used as a brain herb, ginkgo biloba is recommended by health care professionals for a variety of health problems.

The antioxidant properties found in the herbal product can treat eye related problem like retinal damage.

Since ginkgo improves blood flow, it has proved effective in treating intermittent claudication (pain caused by inadequate blood flow to the legs).

It is also widely recommended for ailments like altitude sickness, asthma, depression, disorientation, headaches, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and vertigo.

Further studies are underway to figure out if the herb can be used as a cure for tinnitus, a hearing disorder.