Researchers at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute found Gingko Biloba triggers significant improvement in verbal memory in subjects with age-associated memory impairment compared to placebo.

Many earlier studies with Ginkgo Biloba have produced conflicting results. According to this article, however, most previous studies involving Gingko lasted less than 3 months. The current study is felt to be rather unique because of its longer duration (6 months). The UCLA is also notable in that it tracked brain changes via PET scans.

Unfortunately, however, the study size was quite small (10 patients).
The dose utilized was 120mg of Ginkgo twice a day.

You may be interested in an earlier post which describes how Ginkgo Biloba was found to be as effective as one of the regular prescription drugs (Aricept) used to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

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Just read how in the UK, drugs like Aricpet, Exelon, and Reminyl are no longer available as treatment for mild cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

They are felt to offer too little benefit compared to their expense.

I believe this offers a taste of things to come in the US, as healthcare funds become more and more scarce.

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A recent study out of the New York University School of Medicine reveals that the drug Exelon (Rivastigmine) can improve memory in patients who have moderate-to-severe memory loss from traumatic brain injury.

Specifically, improvements were seen in measures of verbal memory and visual processing tasks.

Exelon is normally a drug used to treat memory impairment in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Its mechanism of action is similar to Aricept (Donezepil) and Razadyne (Galantamine) in that it is thought to enhance cholinergic function in the brain.

The study, however, did not seem to support the effectiveness of Rivastigmine in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI).

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Came across a study published in the September 2006 issue of the European Journal of Neurology that compares Ginkgo Biloba to Aricept in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor- it boosts the amount of acetylcholine available in the brain for nerve cell communication. Reminyl and Exelon are also used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, and work in a similar fashion

There aren’t many studies that compare the two head to head, but this one shows Ginkgo Biloba is clinically as effective as Aricept.

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