
Recently an intersting article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reporting that Ginkgo biloba extract has no effect on dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and does not reduce cognitive decline in older adults with normal cognition or with mild cognitive impairment.
This study was a secondary analysis of data from the randomized double blind Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study that first was published in November, 2008. In the original GEM trial more than three thousand individuals of age 76 or older participated. They were assigned to either placebo or 120 mg twice-daily ginkgo extract. The first analysis of the original GEM study found Ginkgo biloba extract ineffective for preventing dementia even though the evidence of development of dementia was lower than expected, and 40 percent of the active group was not compliant to taking this extract.
In the latest article, on December 29 of 2009, a review was published of the data generated in the original GEM study of 2008 to see if ginkgo supported to slow the rate of cognitive decline in the study participants. Chief Science Officer of the American Herbal Association, Steven Dentali, PhD says, “The data review conducted for this article suffers from the same limitations as the original GEM study with an additional chalenge due to the resting schedule not being ideally suited for this new endpoint.”
Then he continued that the primary findings of the secondary analysis in no way undermine what has already been observed with regard to the usefulness of ginkgo biloba extract, particularly in providing symptomatic relief in persons who already suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
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