Ginkgo Biloba for Brain Health: Does it Really Work?

observational-study PMID: 26938637

Quick Summary: This study looked at how ginseng and ginkgo biloba affect thinking skills. It found that ginkgo biloba helped women's thinking skills, but not men's. Ginseng didn't seem to help anyone.

Does Ginkgo Biloba Improve Memory and Focus?

The research showed that ginkgo biloba improved certain thinking skills in women. These skills included things like:

Focus and Attention: Doing better on tasks that test your ability to focus.

Problem Solving: Improved performance on tasks that require you to sort and organize information.

What About Ginseng?

The study found that ginseng didn't seem to have any positive effects on thinking skills for either men or women.

Study Details

Who was studied: 24 healthy young adults (half men, half women).

How long: Participants took the supplements once, and their thinking skills were tested shortly after.

What they took: Participants took either ginseng (500mg or 1000mg), ginkgo biloba (120mg or 240mg), or a placebo (a "dummy" pill).

What This Means For You

Ginkgo Biloba for Women: If you're a woman looking to boost your focus and thinking skills, ginkgo biloba might be worth discussing with your doctor.

Ginseng May Not Help: This study suggests that ginseng might not be the best choice if you're looking for a cognitive boost.

Talk to Your Doctor: Always talk to your doctor before taking any new supplements, especially if you have any health conditions or take other medications.

Study Limitations

Small Study: The study only included a small number of people, so the results might not apply to everyone.

Short-Term Effects: The study only looked at the effects of the supplements for a short time. We don't know if the benefits would last.

Focus on Young Adults: The study only included young adults, so the results might not be the same for older people.

More Research Needed: More research is needed to confirm these findings and understand how ginkgo biloba works.

Key Findings

Ginkgo biloba (120–240 mg) significantly improved executive function (Stroop interference, Berg Card Sorting) in females (p<0.05) but not males. This cognitive enhancement correlated with reversal of placebo-induced cardiovascular reactivity: during placebo, females showed systolic blood pressure (SBP) increases of +8.2 mmHg during high-reactivity tasks (Stroop/Iowa), which Ginkgo reduced to -2.1 mmHg (p<0.01). Ginseng (500–1000 mg) showed no cognitive benefits in any group but increased SBP by +5.4 mmHg versus placebo (p<0.05). Cardiovascular reactivity modulation was identified as a sex-specific mechanism for Ginkgo’s cognitive effects.

Study Design

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02386852). N = 24 healthy young adults (12 males, 12 females; mean age ~22 years). Participants received single oral doses of Panax ginseng (500 mg, 1000 mg), Ginkgo biloba (120 mg, 240 mg), or placebo across sessions. Cognitive tasks (Stroop, Berg, Iowa Gambling) were administered while continuous SBP, diastolic BP, and heart rate were monitored.

Dosage & Administration

Ginseng: 500 mg and 1000 mg Panax ginseng extract (G115®) orally.
Ginkgo: 120 mg and 240 mg Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761®) orally.
Placebo: Identical capsules. All doses administered once per session in randomized order, with ≥7-day washout between sessions.

Results & Efficacy

Ginkgo in females: Reduced Stroop error rates by 18% (p=0.02) and improved Berg task accuracy by 15% (p=0.04) versus placebo. Cardiovascular reactivity reversal was significant: SBP decreased from +8.2 mmHg (placebo) to -2.1 mmHg during Stroop (p<0.01).
Ginkgo in males: No cognitive improvements despite reduced BP; males exhibited blunted baseline reactivity (ΔSBP: -1.3 mmHg placebo vs. -4.7 mmHg Ginkgo).
Ginseng: No cognitive effects at any dose. Increased SBP by +5.4 mmHg (p=0.03) versus placebo across genders.

Limitations

Small sample size (N=24) limits statistical power and generalizability. Acute dosing only; long-term effects unknown. No baseline cardiovascular stratification (e.g., hypertensive vs. normotensive). Crossover design risks carryover effects despite washout. Demographics restricted to young adults; findings may not apply to older populations.

Clinical Relevance

Ginkgo biloba may acutely enhance executive function in young females by modulating cardiovascular stress responses during cognitive tasks, but shows no benefit in males. Ginseng demonstrated no cognitive effects and increased blood pressure, suggesting it lacks utility for acute cognitive enhancement in this context. Users should note these are acute, sex-specific findings; chronic effects and applicability to clinical populations (e.g., age-related cognitive decline) remain untested. Ginkgo’s mechanism implies cardiovascular health may mediate its cognitive benefits in females.