Ginkgo Improves Memory in Seniors

A new study has found that the extract from the leaves of the ginkgo biloba tree may improve memory and reduce the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly, so long as they remember to take it. The study results, to be published in the journal Neurology, were published online ahead of print on February 27, 2008.¹

Ginkgo biloba has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine to improve memory and for a variety of other purposes. This new study was conducted by researchers from Oregon State University and the University of Pittsburgh and was funded grants from the National Institute on Aging, part of and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, both parts of the National Institutes of Aging.

The new study was a double-blind placebo-controlled study involving 118 men and women, aged 85 and older with no memory problems at baseline. The participants randomly receive either 240 mg of ginkgo biloba extract (24% flavone glycosides & 6% terpene lactones) daily or placebo for 3.5 years. Kaplan-Meier Estimation, Cox Proportional Hazard, and random-effects models were used to to evaluate the risk of progression of clinical dementia and decline in episodic memory function.

When the researchers reviewed the unadjusted findings including all participants, they found that those who received the ginkgo faired only slightly better. However, when the researchers adjusted to account for adherence to the directions, those who took at least 84% of the ginkgo capsules that were given to them, had 68% less risk of developing memory problems. No one in either group developed serious memory issues or dementia; only mild memory problems were reported. The researchers noted that a lack of adjustment for medication adherence in previous studies may account for some contradictory findings in these earlier studies.

Whole Health's ginkgo biloba is guaranteed to have a minimum of 24% ginkgo flavone glycosides and 7% terpene lactones, and has been selected to be used in multiple clinical studies.^2,3 Find out why Whole Health ginkgo biloba is the best available and learn more about the potential benefit of ginkgo biloba here.

1. Dodge, H. H., T. Zitzelberger, et al. (2008). "A randomized placebo-controlled trial of ginkgo biloba for the prevention of cognitive decline." Neurology.

2. Kudolo, G. B., W. Wang, et al. (2006). "Short-term ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract does not alter whole body insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic, pre-diabetic or type 2 diabetic subjects--a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study." Clin Nutr 25(1): 123-34.

3. Kudolo, G. B., W. Wang, et al. (2006). "The effect of the ingestion of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic subjects--a double blind placebo-controlled, crossover study." Clin Nutr 25(4): 606-16.