When I (occasionally) lose my train of thought during a lecture, I transition to a comment about my "senior moment" then tell my audience that we now know there are 3 criteria that are a sign of aging. The first is an inability to heal as quickly as a young person. The second is experiencing a loss of memory, and the third is that..........and I pause, then say, "and I've forgotten the third!"

If you are like most people I know, you occasionally have memory lapses that make you wonder if you are "losing your mind." If so, you may have entertained the notion of taking one of the non-prescription supplements touted for improving memory. The most heavily advertised herbal remedy is Ginkgo Biloba, which is marketed for it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as the possibility it increases the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain where it might enhance memory.

So far, there's no scientific evidence that Ginkgo works to alleviate these common memory lapses that accompany early aging. (That means before your mid-seventies so I prefer to think my memory loss is caused by an overloaded brain.) There are studies that show that Ginkgo is useful in delaying the progress of Alzheimer's by 6-9 months and another from Germany where Ginkgo was given to people suffering from dementia. Twenty seven percent of people who took the standardized supplement showed improvement of their ability to reason but only fourteen percent of people on placebo showed an improvement. That doesn't mean that Ginkgo is useful for the not-demented and published studies on "normal" people like you and me reveal that taking the herb did nothing.

I don't think taking Ginkgo will hurt you. I also don't think it will help you resolve struggles with lost keys, loss of place or loss of the name of a close friend in the stress of a crucial moment. If you choose to take Ginkgo (or any supplement) I urge you to stick with recommendations to use a product that's labeled USP or "standardized" to be sure you are getting the same dose with each tablet or capsule. If you are taking ANY prescription drug don't add Ginkgo without checking with your physician. It acts as an anticoagulant for blood (commonly called a "blood thinner") which could create serious problems for someone taking a prescription drug for this action. It also shouldn't be taken if you bruise easily, or are taking a daily aspirin to help prevent heart disease. Like most herbal products, it shouldn't be use more than six months unless you are willing to risk the as yet unknown effects of taking the herb for a long time. Remember drugs that give us relief are rarely localized. Unless you are seriously ill, taking a drug is always a matter of weighing the pros and cons and being willing to live with any consequences of your choice.

Be well.