A cheap supplement is associated with faster processing skills and better memory - and these beneficial effects have been observed in as little as six weeks. Gingko biloba extract, derived from the ancient Ginkgo biloba or maidenhair tree, has long been touted for its health benefits.
A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine suggests these benefits include improved memory in healthy adults.
Researchers sought to examine the relatively short-term (six weeks) efficacy of Ginkgo biloba extract on the cognitive functioning of "cognitively intact" subjects aged 55 and over.
At the start of the study, 48 participants were randomly assigned to either a Ginkgo biloba extract or placebo control group.
Ginkgo biloba contains antioxidants that help counter free radicals - unstable molecules that attack the brain
Getty Images
To evaluate participants' cognitive and behavioral functioning, series of neuropsychological tests were administered to them prior to the initiation of the Ginkgo biloba extract/placebo therapy and again, just prior to the termination of the treatment regimen (after six weeks).
What did the researchers find out?
Participants who received 180 mg of Ginkgo biloba extract daily for six weeks exhibited significantly more improvement on a task assessing speed of processing abilities by the end of treatment as compared to participants who received placebo.
Improved performances in the Ginkgo biloba group were also observed in three of the four remaining tasks that involved a timed, speed of processing component, although they did not reach statistical significance.
Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the type of treatment (Ginkgo biloba extract or placebo) and participants' ratings of their overall abilities to remember.
Specifically, more participants in the Ginkgo biloba extract group rated their overall abilities to remember by the end of treatment as "improved" as compared to the placebo group. In contrast, no significant differences were found between the Ginkgo biloba and placebo groups by treatment end on any of the four objective memory measures.
A previous study also found patients diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, who took 240mg of Ginkgo a day for six months had better memory and cognitive function than those taking a placebo.
However, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn at this point. Research is limited and other studies have failed to produce the same results.
For example, a 2012 review of research on this relationship concluded that supplementing with Ginkgo did not result in any measurable improvements in memory, executive function, or attention capacity.
More studies are therefore needed.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Other studies have failed to produce these results
Getty ImagesGinkgo is rich in antioxidants that are thought to cancel out free radicals - unstable molecules that can attack brain cells.
Free radicals have been widely studied for their effects on age-related conditions such as heart disease, cognitive decline – in particular, issues with memory – and dementia.
How much Ginkgo biloba is safe to take?
Ginkgo biloba is usually available as tablets, capsules or a tincture. There is no safe upper limit for Ginkgo biloba in the UK, but products tend to range in strength from 30mg to 500mg.
A usual daily dose might be 240mg for adults and, as a general guide, should be taken for a minimum of eight weeks to see any effect, according to the Europeans Medicines Agency (EMA).
Make sure you read any instructions on the packaging or patient leaflet before taking, advises the EMA.
It is not advisable for pregnant or breast-feeding women to take ginkgo, as safety has not yet been established in these groups, research suggests.
Ginkgo can interact with certain drugs including:
