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Can Ginkgo Treat Alzheimer's Disease? |
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 Most of us know about Ginkgo biloba. We’ve seen it on the shelves of the health store. It is often marketed as a natural supplement to improve memory. Ginkgo biloba the supplement comes from the ginkgo biloba tree (also known as the maidenhair tree). It is actually thought to be one of the oldest trees on Earth and its extracts have been used for thousands of years in China. Because of the herb’s potential positive effects on memory, it has been recently studied as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Most recently, the largest of these studies was just completed. The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study took place at four sites over 8 years. It looked at over 3000 participants age 75 years and older. It was co-funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Unfortunately, the study concluded that ginkgo is not effective in decreasing the incidence of dementia or Alzheimer’s in older people. In fact, the most recent trial shows that ginkgo may actually increase the risk of stroke in elderly people if taken for 6 years.
Although earlier evidence suggested that ginkgo might help symptoms of Alzheimer’s, in light of the evidence presented in this recent trial, many experts are recommending that ginkgo not be taken for the treatment of mental decline or dementia in older people. As always, before beginning to take any supplement, talk to your doctor first.
Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D.
Dr. Larson is a Clinical Infusion Pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of www.empoweredmedicine.com. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab. EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information.
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