| Ginkgo biloba is an ancient medicinal plant long used in | | | | subjects developed mild dementia-a third of which |
| Asia for the improvement of memory and blood | | | | was from the ginkgo biloba group. While the numbers |
| circulation. It is now among the most popular herbal | | | | favored the supplement, they were still statistically |
| supplements in Europe and the United States, mainly | | | | insignificant to prove that ginkgo biloba does help with |
| taken by adults over the age of 50 who are | | | | memory loss. |
| concerned about age-related memory loss and other | | | | Nevertheless, the researchers noted that those who |
| cognitive diseases. | | | | took ginkgo biloba religiously showed a 68 percent |
| The question, "Does ginkgo biloba help with memory | | | | lower risk of having mild memory problems than |
| loss?' is perhaps as often asked as the supplement | | | | subjects from the placebo group. |
| itself is popular. While some believe that there is no | | | | Obviously, the question "Does ginkgo biloba help with |
| harm in trying the supplement, whether effective or | | | | memory loss?" has not been fully answered by clinical |
| not, here are some points you can consider if you | | | | trials, but even so, a lot of people who use it swear by |
| have the same question in mind. | | | | its benefits. In some cases, healthy adults who take the |
| The truth is, even now, the medical community is still | | | | supplement almost immediately notice their improved |
| mostly undecided or, at least, have contradictory views | | | | ability to concentrate. Concentration is of course |
| on the efficacy of ginkgo biloba against memory loss. | | | | essential to being able to think and remember. |
| Different studies have been done, but the results are | | | | The reason that ginkgo biloba is being considered for |
| still largely inconclusive. | | | | its benefits to memory and brain function is not at all |
| One study suggests that ginkgo biloba may be | | | | baseless. For one, ginkgo biloba extract has been |
| responsible for improving verbal recall in a group of | | | | found to have antioxidants such as flavonoids and |
| people who took the supplement. The group consisted | | | | terpenoids that can fight damage to cells caused by |
| of people between the ages of 45 and 75 who did | | | | free radicals. Brain and nerve cells (neurons) are |
| not suffer from dementia, but had mild age-related | | | | particularly vulnerable to free radical damage as we |
| memory problems. Cognitive tests and | | | | grow older, which is one reason behind age-related |
| positron-emission tomography (PET) done on the | | | | memory loss. The medicinal plant is likewise known to |
| subjects showed that the group who took ginkgo | | | | have properties that can treat depression, which can |
| biloba for six months had better recall associated with | | | | also affect memory and aggravate dementia. |
| improved brain function. | | | | Ginkgo biloba is a proven anti-coagulant that helps |
| A longer study, however, indicated that there is no | | | | improve blood circulation. Normal blood circulation is |
| definite effect of ginkgo biloba on memory. The | | | | required for the brain to get enough oxygen and |
| research studied 118 senior adults aged 85 and older, | | | | nutrients to function. However, the blood-thinning effect |
| who had no memory problems, for three years. Half of | | | | of ginkgo biloba may have the side effect of bleeding |
| them took ginkgo biloba three times a day, while the | | | | or cause mild strokes in some. |
| rest took a placebo. Of this number, a total of 21 | | | | |