Older adults who were not cognitively impaired - or have mild cognitive impairment - will not benefit from taking ginkgo biloba, according to new research from the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In this new study, 3,069 adults aged 75 years or older to took Ginkgo biloba (120 milligrams twice daily) or a placebo pill for seven years.
After an average of 6.1 years of follow up, taking Ginkgo biloba did not prevent dementia and had no effect on the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
The supplement was not without side effects. Study participants with heart disease were more likely to develop dementia if they supplemented with ginkgo.
The same factors for heart disease - high cholesterol, high blood pressure and poorly controlled diabetes - are also linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Nutrition strategies that help keep your heart and blood vessels healthy - such as eating omega-3 rich fish - may also preserve your memory as you age.
Eating a diet that's high in vegetables and fruits and low in saturated and trans fat may also prevent cognitive decline.
For more information on foods that benefit your brain and your heart, check out Leslie Beck's Foods that Fight Disease.
All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.