A new UCLA study finds gingko biloba may help improve memory among people suffering from age-related memory impairment.
Researchers at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute found significant improvement in verbal recall among a group of people with age-associated memory impairment who took the herbal supplement for six months, as compared with a group that received a placebo.
The researchers used positron-emission tomography and found subjects taking gingko biloba had improved recall correlated with better brain function in key brain memory centers.
However, actual changes in brain metabolism, measured by PET scans for the first time, did not differ significantly between the study’s two volunteer groups. Researchers noted although all volunteers taking gingko biloba experienced better verbal recall, a larger sample size might be needed to effectively track brain metabolism results.
Gingko biloba is a Chinese herb often used as a dietary supplement to treat memory loss.