- With Mayo Clinic clinical neuropsychologist
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Glenn Smith is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Smith, a Lincoln, Neb., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1990 and works with neurologists, psychiatrists, internists, social workers and nurses involved in diagnosing and providing care for people with dementia and their families.
"For Alzheimer's disease, there is currently no cure," he says. "The best 'medicine' for patient and family remains education and support. Hopefully, Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's disease Web resources contribute to compassionate care and understanding for Alzheimer's families."
Dr. Smith is a professor of psychology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, and principal investigator of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Education Core. He is past president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology.
Consumer health basics (1)
- Kidney donation: Are there long-term risks?
Alternative medicine (17)
- Probiotics: What are they?
- Detox foot pads: Do they really work?
- Infrared saunas: What are the health benefits?
- see all in Alternative medicine
Medications (4)
- Grapefruit juice: Can it cause drug interactions?
- Antibiotics and alcohol: Should I avoid mixing them?
- Aspirin allergy: What are the symptoms?
- see all in Medications
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Ginkgo biloba: Can it prevent memory loss?
Can ginkgo biloba prevent memory loss and improve cognitive function in people with Alzheimer's disease?
Answer
from Glenn Smith, Ph.D.
Ginkgo biloba, derived from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree, is often touted as a memory aid, but it's still unclear whether ginkgo biloba can prevent memory loss associated with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.
Small, early studies have shown modest improvements in cognitive function for older adults with dementia. However, a large-scale study, published in a November 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, found no evidence that ginkgo biloba prevents memory loss or slows the progression of dementia among those who had mild cognitive impairment at the start of the study.
More studies are needed to determine possible benefits and long-term risks of ginkgo biloba. For now, ginkgo biloba is generally recognized as safe if taken as directed and under the guidance of your doctor. However, bleeding may be a concern when ginkgo biloba is taken with other medications because it may affect the clotting process. Don't use ginkgo biloba if you're taking anti-clotting medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin, or medications that can affect bleeding, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Consult with your doctor before starting any dietary supplement.
Next questionPrebiotics: What are they?
- DeKosky ST, et al. Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300:2253.
- Ginkgo. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 18, 2009.
- Saper R. Clinical use of ginkgo biloba. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 3, 2009.
- Kelly BJ, et al. Alternative medicine and Alzheimer disease. Neurologist. 2008;14:299.
- Birks J, et al. Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD003120.
