July 31, 2000 – A new clinical study involving 36 volunteers aged 30 to 59 has shown that ginkgo biloba improves short-term memory. According to the authors of the research, the effect is particularly noticeable in subjects aged 50 to 59.
So far, experts agree that ginkgo biloba slightly improves mental functions in people with senile dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. But for the English herbalist Douglas Scharr, the new study indicates that the ginkgo biloba has an interesting potential for the mnemonic function as a whole and could be a preferred choice if the memory problems are related to a simple surplus of information.
The 36 study subjects were divided into five groups receiving 50 mg three times a day of an extract of ginkgo biloba, 100 mg three times a day, a dose of 120 or 240 mg, or a placebo, respectively. for two days. Participants were subjected to several memory and reaction time tests before and after consuming ginkgo biloba.
The results showed that the single 120 mg dose gave the best results in terms of short-term memory and reaction time, and people between the ages of 50 and 59 responded more to the plant. According to Scharr, these results suggest that it is possible to improve performance on an exam by simply taking a ginkgo biloba extract a few hours before taking it. The extract was standardized to 24% flavonoid glucosides and 6% lactone terpenes.
HealthPassport.net
According to Prevention, August 2000 and Rigney U, Kimber S, Hindmarch I. The effects of acute doses of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract on memory and psychomotor performance in volunteers. Phytother Res. 1999 Aug; 13 (5): 408-15.
