Does Ginkgo Biloba Help Memory? The Research, the Risks and How Neuro Recall Compares

The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study, or GEM, is the largest ginkgo trial in older adults. Its results were published in JAMA in 2009 (Snitz et al., JAMA 2009). Volunteers were randomly given ginkgo or a placebo.

People took 120 mg of ginkgo twice a day. They were followed for a median of 6.1 years. Over that time, the researchers tracked their thinking skills.

What did the GEM trial find?

Ginkgo did not slow cognitive decline. Scores dropped at about the same pace in both groups. NCCIH adds that ginkgo also did not lower the rate of dementia in this group (NCCIH, Ginkgo).

This was a long trial with a real dose and thousands of people. When a study like that finds no effect, it carries a lot of weight.

Many readers ask whether newer research has changed the picture. NCCIH, part of the NIH, reports that ginkgo did not lower dementia rates in the GEM study (NCCIH, Ginkgo). It also keeps an overview of research on supplements for memory and dementia (NCCIH, Supplements for cognitive function).

If ginkgo failed in GEM, why is it in so many memory products? Part of the reason is history. Ginkgo was popular long before the big trial reported. Small early studies looked promising, and labels kept the herb once buyers knew its name.

Small studies can mislead. They often run for weeks, enroll few people and measure many things, so some results look good by chance. Large, long trials like GEM are designed to avoid those traps. That is why we give GEM more weight than any single small study.

What about people who already have memory loss?

GEM tested ginkgo in older adults, and it did not lower dementia rates. Anyone with memory changes should see a doctor rather than try an herb first. Our post on normal forgetfulness or dementia explains which changes need a visit.

Bleeding risk is the main safety point in NCCIH's summary (NCCIH, Ginkgo). Supplements use an extract of the leaf. Any new symptom after you start is worth noting for your doctor.

Watch for unusual bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums or blood in urine or stool. If you notice any of these, stop the product and call your doctor. The Neuro Recall side effects page covers the whole capsule.

Not all ginkgo is alike. A standardized extract is made so each dose holds a set level of the plant's main compounds. That lets researchers know exactly what people took.

Labels vary a lot. Some products state a standard, and some list only the words ginkgo leaf extract. The Neuro Recall label lists ginkgo biloba leaf extract with no standard printed, while it does print one for bacopa and green tea. That is not a flaw by itself, but it means you cannot match it to a research extract.

What should you look for on a ginkgo label?

Check three things: the amount in milligrams, whether a standard is stated, and the warnings. If the amount is hidden inside a blend, the label order sets an upper limit but not the real figure. Our Supplement Facts guide shows how to read a blend line.

Neuro Recall lists ginkgo biloba leaf extract second in its 635 mg blend, right after cinnamon. The label does not print the exact amount. By label-order rules, ginkgo can weigh at most 317.5 mg in a 2-capsule serving (21 CFR 101.36).

Honest note

With ginkgo, the dose is not the main problem. GEM used 240 mg a day, which Neuro Recall could match, and still found no benefit (Snitz et al., JAMA 2009). So we do not claim the ginkgo in Neuro Recall helps memory. The capsule also carries B12, folate, magnesium, chromium and nine other blend items, listed on the ingredients page.

If you want to compare memory products on doses, labels and refund terms, our memory supplement buyer's checklist lays out each step. For the next herb in the blend, read our review of bacopa monnieri research.

If you still want to try a product that holds ginkgo, plan it with care. A short, written plan keeps you safe and makes it easier to judge.