Results of a randomized trial show no beneficial effect of Ginkgo biloba in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in subjects with normal cognition or in those with mild cognitive impairment.
This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out at 5 academic medical centers in the United States to see whether treatment with G biloba in a dose of 120 mg 2 times/day could prevent incident dementia or Alzheimer’s disease vs. placebo. A total of 2587 subjects older than 75 years with normal cognition at baseline, and 482 subjects with mild cognitive impairment were included. Patients were assessed every 6 months for dementia.
After a median follow-up of 6.1 years, 523 subjects were diagnosed with dementia, 246 (16.1%) in the group taking placebo, and 277 (17.9%) in those taking G biloba. Of the total dementia cases, 92% were classified as possible or probable Alzheimer’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease with evidence of cerebrovascular disease.
The authors feel that it is unethical to recommend a treatment in the absence of evidence of its efficacy
simply because it could possibly help and initially appears harmless. Ginkgo biloba, even if it were free, is NOT recommended for the treatment or prevention of dementia.