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The truth about ginkgo biloba and
aging
Even though you all probably believe the mantra that if
something sounds too good to be true, it ain't true, it's
still the case, I'm sure, that you've all been caught out at
one time or other putting your faith into something that did
indeed sound too good to be true, but which you simply
couldn't resist. Which reminds me: anyone know a good use
for two boxes full of Enron shares?
Anyway, when it comes to health, there are no end of
"incredible" and unbelievable too-good-to-be-true
products and therapies available to the naive believer, from
re-birthing (one was enough for me, thank you, not to
mention my mom) to shark cartilage and DHEA. What unites
most such "miracles" is first, that there is
rarely good science behind them and second, that they're
often peddled by people who have something to gain by
signing up more believers. Sometimes, however, even real
science gets caught up in this wish that something simple is
the answer to our prayers. After all, we would all - even
this old cynic - love to believe that good health is simply
one risk-free capsule away.
Which is why there was much general glee a few years ago
when a study in a respected medical journal concluded that
the widely available herb ginkgo biloba may slow down memory
loss and improve mental function in elderly patients with
dementia, because it promised an easy, nearly risk-free,
scientifically validated way to maintain our brains as we
aged, at least easier than doing lots of exercise and all
those other lifestyle things that are also known to benefit
brain power but which require - horrors! - discipline and
effort.
Well, if, like me, you too have been taking ginkgo as a
result of this and similar studies, I'm afraid I have to be
the sand pebble in your daily muesli (if you take ginkgo,
I'm sure you also eat lots of muesli) because I have to tell
you of a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics
Society that found that even high doses of ginkgo are no
better than placebo at slowing or reducing memory loss or
improving mental performance in elderly people with
dementia.
Now, I'm sure that all ginkgo gringos will immediately point
out that this latter study was only done over a few months,
so it still leaves the question of whether ginkgo might work
if it's taken in high doses for longer periods, especially
before memory loss has set in. Speaking as a typical baby
boomer, though, I must say that I honestly don't know anyone
whose memory and cognitive skills haven't already slipped a
whole lot by midlife. At least, I think that's what I think.
Forgot to take my ginkgo today, you see
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