This week the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the results of a 6 year study on over 3000 older adults to see if Ginkgo biloba really lives up to claims that it helps the memory and can stave off dementia. The results: a resounding no.

One group of test subjects received Ginkgo twice a day in a dose regulated by the German government as a drug, while the control group received placebo. Between the two groups, researchers found:

• No difference in memory
• No difference in attention
• No difference in visuospatial abilities
• No difference in language abilities
• No difference in executive functions
• No difference in cognitive decline
• No difference in risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or any other sort of dementia
• “no significant effect modification of treatment on rate of [cognitive] decline by age, sex, race, education, APOE*E4 allele, or baseline mild cognitive impairment (P > .05)”

In short, nothing to recommend the use of Ginkgo beyond the fact that it’s relatively safe, with few serious side effects. One researcher said “I’ve got no good reason to suggest you continue to take it beyond your own blind faith.” The bottom line is this: save your money; don’t buy Ginkgo.

It is worth mentioning that exercise does have a positive impact on cognition and cognitive decline. This has been shown in multiple studies. It may take longer than popping an herbal supplement, but unlike Ginkgo, it does work.