Do Ginkgo products help?

Various systematic reviews have looked into whether Ginkgo products can relieve symptoms in people with Alzheimer's disease. In the studies included in the reviews, people with Alzheimer’s disease were randomly assigned to one of two or more groups and given either Ginkgo, a fake medication (placebo) or a different medication.

The studies mostly tested one particular product containing the extract EGb 761. The doses used in the studies ranged between 60 mg and 600 mg per day. Most of the participants had mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. The total of 60 studies lasted up to one year.

They looked into whether Gingko extracts had led to an improvement in memory, and whether the participants were better able to perform everyday tasks such as shopping, washing themselves and doing household chores. The studies also looked into whether the Ginkgo product improved mental health problems like depression or hallucinations, and whether it influenced quality of life.

The studies showed that taking a higher dose of the Ginkgo extract (240 mg per day) could improve participants' memory. There was also an improvement in their ability to manage activities of daily life, such as doing household chores or washing themselves – at least temporarily. However, these effects varied widely from study to study, so it isn't possible to draw any clear conclusions about how many people could actually benefit from Ginkgo and how strong its effect is. The lower dose of the Ginkgo extract (120 mg per day) did not clearly influence the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

The studies also suggest that Ginkgo can reduce mental health problems. It seemed to reduce emotional stress for caregiving family members and friends too. Further research is needed to be sure of this, though.

It is not clear how effective Ginkgo is compared to standard cholinesterase inhibitor and memantine medications for treating Alzheimer's.

People who took Gingko products didn't have more side effects than those who took a placebo, but they stopped taking the products due to side effects more often than people in the comparison group. The possible side effects include stomach problems or headaches.

It can't be ruled out that Ginkgo may interact with other medications. For instance, it is believed that it can increase the effect of blood-thinning medications such as acetylsalicylic acid (the drug in medications like Aspirin) and warfarin. So it is important to let doctors know about any other medicines you are using before starting treatment with Ginkgo.