Memory Herb 'Does Not Help The Elderly'

Ananova ^ | 8-20-2002

[blam]

Memory herb 'does not help the elderly'

Researchers say a popular herbal supplement which is said to boost memory and mental alertness has no beneficial effect on older adults.

Ginkgo biloba is taken by millions of people around the world who believe it enhances memory and other mental abilities.

In 1998, more than £220 million worth of the leaf extract was sold in the United States alone.

But the supplement failed dismally when tested under experimental conditions by researchers in the US.

A group of 230 volunteers, all over the age of 60 but physically and mentally healthy, were given 14 tests of learning, memory, attention and concentration.

Their spouses, partners and close friends were also asked to rate their mental abilities.

Half the volunteers were then given gingko biloba for six weeks while the other half had a placebo. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was taking the real supplement until the end of the trial.

The findings showed no significant difference in mental ability between the two groups on any of the objective or subjective measures, the researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Dr Paul Solomon, from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, who led the research, said: "The results indicate that when taken following the manufacturer's instructions, ginkgo provides no measurable benefit in memory, attention, or concentration in healthy older adults.

"We hope others will now further test ginkgo and other vitamins and nutrients to see if they really provide the benefits they claim."

Story filed: 21:02 Tuesday 20th August 2002

[blam]

Dang it! I just ordered $20.00 worth of this stuff, I think.

[Dog Gone]

I wish I could remember if I've ever taken any.

[gov_bean_ counter]

If the stuff hadn't been given to the observers, how would they remember if there had been any improvement?

[TomB]

Gee, another "natural" remedy bites the dust.

[ECM]

They neglect to mention that, in most cases, it'll take up to 6 months of continuous use to see positive effects from this nutrient.

[dinasour]

Shucks, I thought that if I took everything in the herbal isle of the supermarket, I'd live forever.

Death is God's way of getting rid us idiots, and letting the young, who know everything already, have a chance.

[umgud]

You know you are old when you are too old to "do it" but your menory is so bad, you thought you actually did do it.

[RJCogburn]

It is not an completely safe substance. It has some mild anticoagulant properties for example, and spontaneous bleeding in the eye has been reported.

That and other adverse effects may be worth the risk if it works...if it works.

[ECM]

I don't recall arguing that it didn't have side effects--though I've never experienced anything other than headaches, initially (though I had the same sides with Hydergine and Piracetam as well--too much oxygen to the brain at once ;)

[aruanan]

They neglect to mention that, in most cases, it'll take up to 6 months of continuous use to see positive effects from this nutrient.

Dr Paul Solomon, from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, who led the research, said: "The results indicate that when taken following the manufacturer's instructions, ginkgo provides no measurable benefit in memory, attention, or concentration in healthy older adults."

Um hmm. Yeah. Experimental evidence shows that when taken following manufacturer's instructions, it provides no measurable benefit. I'm willing to bet:

a. that researchers wouldn't have wasted time showing that the product wasn't efficacious within the time frame proposed by the manufacturers if it had already been demonstrated that a longer period of usage had demonstrable benefits, and
b. that manufacturers would have cited such research if it existed and adjusted their manufacturer's instructions accordingly.

[Valin]

Researchers say a popular herbal supplement which is said to boost memory and mental aler...

Now what was I doing?

[templar]

That and other adverse effects may be worth the risk if it works...if it works.

I'm a big believer in nutritionals and herbs. I've found that both benefits and adverse effects are highly dependant on the individual. What works for one person may be totally inneffective for another. I've also found that the placebo effect is particularly noticeable with herbals and nutritionals. I've tried Ginko and found that it does nothing for me. For someone with a different brain chemistry or condition it may be beneficial, but not for me.

Know of anyone who has verifiably benefitted form Ginko? What was the condition of their brain or memory that it benefitted?