A new study casts some serious doubts on one of the supposed benefits of a popular herbal supplement. “Probably one of it’s most popular uses is for memory loss and cognitive function,” says Doctor David Rakel, director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, talking about Ginko biloba.
The a new study, reported on in the Journal of the American Medical Association, casts some doubts on Ginko’s benefits. “This is a rather large study, three thousand people,” explains Rakel, adding that the study’s six year time line was key. “No has been done for this extent of time . . . and the study did not show a significant benefit for the Ginko biloba versus the placebo. Rakel’s advice to people taking Ginko? “If they’re using it to prevent memory loss, I would have them maybe invest their money in something else.” Something else, he suggests, could include a healthy diet, exercise, and activities such as reading, which may help keep the mind sharp.
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