Memory study, ginkgo-related

Ginkgo. The leaves and seeds of this plant, native to China, Japan, and Korea, are used to improve age-related loss of memory, including the dementia associated with Alzheimer s disease, and to relieve ringing of the ears and a type of pain and weakness in the limbs called intermittent claudication. More than 40 studies involving more than 1,000 patients show that ginkgo has a modest effect on dementia and intermittent claudication, but does not seem to help with memory loss or ringing of the ears. 

Brautigam MRH, Blommaert FA, Verleye G, Castermans J, Steur ENHJ, Kleijnen J. Treatment of age-related memory complaints with Ginkgo biloba extract a randomized double blind placebo-controlled study. Phytomedicine 1998 5 425-434. 

Other than Ginkgo biloba, several herbal preparations or nutritional supplements are presently used by practitioners from diverse traditions to treat age-related memory loss or dementia. Exhibit 6 displays significant findings of controlled studies or clinical observation on selected natural products under investigation for cognitive-enhancing or dementia-reversing activities. 

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