Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba and Healthy Older Adults

However, researchers at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. and The Memory Clinic in Bennington, Vt. found no beneficial effect on memory and related mental functions of healthy older adults. This study was reported in the Aug. 21st issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The researchers identified 230 volunteers over the age of 60 who were physically and mentally healthy. They gave them 14 tests of learning, memory, and attention and concentration, and had them and their companions (e.g. spouses, partners, close friends) rate the participants' mental functions on subjective scales. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups: one to take ginkgo and one placebo. The study was double blind; neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was taking ginkgo and who was taking placebo.

After six weeks, participants in the study retook the 14 standardized tests and they and their companions re-rated participants' mental functions. There were no significant differences between those taking ginkgo and those taking placebo on any of the objective or subjective measures.

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