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Reuters
LONDON - A Chinese herb called Ginkgo biloba billed by some as a potential over-the-counter wonder drug that boosts mental dexterity and sharpens the memory has been found to do nothing to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
A large scientific study of the supplement by researchers in France found that people who took twice-daily doses of Ginkgo biloba were no less likely to develop the brain-wasting disease than those given a placebo, or dummy pill.
The study, published in The Lancet Neurology journal on Thursday, suggests anyone taking the herb extract in the hope of escaping Alzheimer's is wasting their money, experts said.
"For a while it was hoped that ginkgo biloba could be the wonder drug," said Jess Smith, a spokeswoman for the Alzheimer's Society.
"However, in recent years evidence ... has repeatedly shown that it does not have any benefits in preventing the disease or slowing down symptoms."
The trial was conducted over five years and involved 2,854 people in France who were aged 70 years or older and who had already visited their doctors with concerns about their memory.
Ginkgo biloba extract - which is derived from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree - was given to 1,406 patients, while the other 1,414 were given a placebo designed to have a similar taste and appearance to the Ginkgo pills.
Researchers then used standard tests to assess the patients' memory, cognitive function and dementia status.
After five years, 61 people in the ginkgo biloba group, or 4 percent, had been diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease, compared with 73, or 5 percent, in the placebo group.
The researchers, led by Bruno Vellas of the Hopital Casselardit in Toulouse, France, said the difference in results for the two groups was not statistically significant. The study also appeared to confirm the findings of a 2009 trial in the United States which had similar results.
Nice theory destroyed by 'ugly fact'
Vellas said that while the results suggested regular use of Ginkgo biloba did not protect the elderly from progression to Alzheimer's, more studies were needed to examine longer-term use of the herb and other potential prevention measures.
An estimated 18 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease and as populations age, rates of the disease are expected to soar.
The fatal brain disease, which has no cure and few effective treatments, affects memory, thinking and behavior and is placing an increasingly heavy burden on societies and economies across the world.
"The fact that prevalence of this debilitating disorder is expected to quadruple by 2050 suggests that research into preventative therapies for this disease needs to receive urgent attention," Vellas said in a statement.
Edzard Ernst, a professor and former director of complementary medicine at Britain's University of Exeter, said the study's findings were important, even if they were disappointing for those who want to believe in herbal remedies.
"This is by far the largest trial of Ginkgo so far," he said in an emailed comment. "The results are disappointing and fail to show that this herbal remedy reduces the risk of Alzheimer's. Another beautiful herbal theory destroyed by an ugly fact."
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I am glad they are doing the scientific studying of the many herbs people are taking. Some work very well and then some don't.
Coconut oil helps with Alzheimer's as does ketones your body produces:
http://www.bulletproofexec.com/podcast-13-how-to-take-care-of-your-brain-with-coconut-oil-ketones/
Way to inform your readers msn.
They need to find a cure for this duh! None of the studies and meds they are testing are working! Get on it!!!!!!
Interesting how many articles against natural alternatives there have been on this site lately.
While none about adverse affects of pharmaceuticals.
The sponsorship dictates the content.
Because, drugs cannot be released onto the market until they have been tested. Supplements have no testing necessary.
Over 70% of pharmaceuticals are taken off the market within 15 years because they are unsafe and it is well established that the pharmaceutical industry fudges safety studies.
Actually, it's more like the drugs are put on before the long-term studies...or that new technology proves safety/proves unsafety.
Most medications already have a list of side effects a mile long BECAUSE THEY WERE STUDIED. So, why would there be news about side effects in medicines, since the whole point of clinical trial is to find them. Sometimes, when a medication is used a long time, or in a larger population, other side effects are discovered. Those usually, do make the news, especially when the medication is pulled from the market.
Most natural medicines have not, so both their positive and negative effects are unknown.
MOST natural medicines have been tested... for thousands of years!
There is really a lot more information out there than the major media companies let on.
Derek-908696 - Show me the empirical evidence from thousands of years that shows that any herbal remedy you're referring to works as advertised.
So many people whine about Big Pharma without whining about Big Herbal. You really think that people selling herbal remedies are in the business for any other reason than profit.
Most medications are taken from nature. One of the most important is aspirin. Taxol from tree bark is used for ovarian cancer.
The people who would have benefited kept forgetting to take it ... BADDA BADDA BING.
So the people in the study started taking the Ginko when they were 70??? As the one commercial goes, that's like checking on your burgers after they're burned.
Many herbs and supplements work best as part of a synergistic blend and I think Ginko is one such supplement, if it is combined with gotu kola, fish oil, tumeric, ginger, bioperine then you have a great mental clarity combo.
I doubt there will ever be a "cure" for Alzheimer's. They will find ways to prevent it, but they will never find a way to reverse it.
Try cannabis. It prevents it.
Really not enough here to draw conclusions. Not even a mention of what dosage they were taking. Maybe it wasn't high enough. People who run these studies generally don't know what they're doing, I've noticed.
There are a number of clinical trials showing that ginkgo is useful for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's. It can't stop mental decline in the long run, but it temporarily improves cognitive function to nearly the same extent as the much more toxic pharmaceutical alternatives. In fact, for early-stage dementia it's probably got more favorable evidence than memantine, and it doesn't make people start falling down. There is a difference between treating a disease and preventing it that is completely ignored in this article.