VIDEO: Is Ginko Biloba Still Used?

Host: I have to go back to the old standard — ginkgo biloba. Is that still used quite often for memory?

Dr. Stengler: Ginkgo biloba is still used, but it's not as popular as it once was — just because there are so many other supplements we can now use. It's not that it doesn't work as well, it's just that there are more options out there now.

Host: That's true.

Dr. Stengler: Well, ginkgo biloba works by improving oxygenation to the brain and improving circulation. The research is actually quite mixed when it comes to more severe age-related memory loss or even early-stage Alzheimer's disease — some studies are positive, some are negative. But it has shown in healthy middle-aged adults to help improve memory. So it's inexpensive. If you're on blood-thinning medication, it's not something you'd want to use without your doctor's supervision. But it is still a popular supplement in America.

Host: So when a patient comes in suffering from memory loss — and you've done some hormone evaluations, looked at diet, exercise, and how they're doing emotionally — what would be your first-line supplement?

Dr. Stengler: Well, it depends on what's going on. If it's a menopausal woman, I really focus on balancing hormones and making sure she has adequate essential fatty acids and B12. If it's a senior, I really like citicoline. I also like another supplement called acetyl-L-carnitine, which has numerous studies showing it helps improve memory. It works in part by improving low levels of acetylcholine and neurotransmitters in the brain — very important for memory. It also helps the two hemispheres of the brain communicate with one another. There are very good studies on it, I find a lot of patients respond to it, and it's non-toxic as well.

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