(NaturalHealth365)  If you are an older adult who occasionally “blanks” on a word or struggles to recall the exact title of the movie you saw last week, you are not alone.  According to a 2020 article published in the scientific journal SSM Popular Health, approximately two out of three American adults will begin to experience some level of cognitive impairment by age 70.  To improve memory and cognition, many turn to ginkgo biloba.

Long valued in traditional Chinese medicine as a natural remedy to spark a flagging memory or promote concentration, ginkgo biloba has become a popular supplement in the United States (as well as in Europe, where it is available by prescription).  But does this intriguing herb live up to its “brainy” reputation?  We’re glad you asked!  A new review of clinical studies published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment highlights the potential of ginkgo biloba extracts to boost brainpower.

Recent ginkgo biloba review shows beneficial effects on cognition and mood

In a multi-center review involving over 900 participants, the authors analyzed the effects of a ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) on people with mild age-related cognitive impairment.  They found that the extract helped to improve depression and anxiety, as well as significantly improving memory, processing speed, attention, and executive function.

The authors concluded that ginkgo biloba has treatment benefits for those with mild neurocognitive disorder and cognitive decline.  Other good news: where adverse effects were concerned, there was no difference between ginkgo biloba extract and placebo, leading the researchers to deem the treatment “safe” and “well tolerated.”

Ginkgo biloba may also help with dementia

In some studies, ginkgo biloba has shown promise against more serious cognitive problems like dementia.  Almost three decades ago, a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial published in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that 52 weeks of supplementation with a ginkgo biloba extract improved the cognitive performance and social functioning of Alzheimer’s patients with mild-to-severe dementia.

While the improvements were modest, they were measurable – and significant enough to be noticed by caregivers.  More recent research cited in a 2020 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology showed that ginkgo extracts can improve verbal fluency and enhance the ability of people with Alzheimer’s disease to perform daily tasks and activities.  In yet another impressive study, 160 mg of ginkgo extract a day worked as well as donepezil, a pharmaceutical medication, in improving global functioning and cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginkgo biloba may improve functioning in impaired and healthy adults alike

But what, exactly, makes ginkgo biloba so well suited to enhancing cognitive abilities?  Scientists say the answer may lie with its beneficial plant compounds, which include flavonoids and terpenes.

Flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent oxidative damage to tissues and cells.  At the same time, terpenes promote healthy circulation in the brain – allowing them to decrease the potential for blood clots while discouraging neurotoxicity and brain cell death.

In light of this, it’s not surprising that many holistic physicians advise ginkgo biloba to alleviate damage after acute ischemic strokes.  It is not only those with cognitive impairment who can benefit from ginkgo extracts.  A 2017 article in PsychologyToday.com notes that combining ginkgo and a second Chinese herb, dangshen, improved cognitive function in healthy volunteers.

Incidentally, ginkgo biloba may also increase energy, support eye health, ease premenstrual syndrome, soothe migraines, and alleviate fibromyalgia.  (Is there anything this versatile herb can’t do?)

This trusted natural remedy has its roots in antiquity

The ginkgo tree – also called the maidenhair tree – is one of the oldest species in the world.  Some still-living trees in China are believed to be over 2,500 years old.  This longevity has earned the ginkgo biloba the title of “living fossil,” which means the trees can survive even after major extinction events.

Ginkgo biloba is available as a supplement in capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts.  Look for a ginkgo extract standardized to contain 24 to 32 percent flavonoids and 6 to 12 percent terpenoids.  Holistic healthcare providers typically advise taking between 120 and 240 mg daily in divided amounts – but consult your doctor to see if ginkgo biloba is best for you.

Warning: if you encounter a ginkgo tree “in person,” don’t try to access the benefits of eating the seeds.  While ginkgo leaves are packed with beneficial compounds, the seeds are poisonous.  Don’t use ginkgo biloba if you take blood-thinning medications or if you use antidepressants such as MAOI inhibitors or SSRIs like Zoloft (sertraline) or Prozac (fluoxetine).  Again, your holistic doctor can advise you.

There’s something oddly fitting about the fact that an extract from a “living fossil” may enhance cognition in older adults, who may want to preserve and maintain their vibrant memories, cognitive skills, and hard-earned wisdom as they age.  After all, these priceless assets are well worth protecting!

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
NIH.gov
NIH.gov
MedicalNewsToday.com
NIH.gov
PsychologyToday.com