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MSM

Health News Archive 170 - Alzheimer's Disease
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Ginkgo May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s

A preliminary study suggests that Ginkgo biloba leaf extract may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Ginkgo has long been known to improve brain (cognitive) function in adults and to favorably influence other signs of aging.

In the new study, the brain tissue of aged rats who had been fed a popular commercially available ginkgo supplement for 28 days was analyzed. Compared with rats that were not given ginkgo, those receiving the herb had significantly reduced amounts of amyloid beta-peptide.

In Alzheimer’s disease, certain proteins in the brain degenerate to form plaques and deposits of debris known as amyloid. A major component of these plaques and amyloid deposits is called amyloid beta-peptide. It is not known why amyloid beta-peptide forms in brain tissue, although some researchers suspect that environmental exposure to aluminum is an important factor. Any treatment that inhibits amyloid beta-peptide formation is expected to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Ginkgo improves brain function in at least two ways: it increases blood flow to the brain and enhances metabolic activity in brain cells independent of the amount of blood reaching the cells. Ginkgo also functions as an antioxidant, and might therefore help prevent cellular free radical damage. Clinical trials have shown that supplementing with ginkgo can reverse the decline in cognitive function that often accompanies aging. Ginkgo has also been reported to improve other age-related problems associated with blood flow, including ringing in the ears (tinnitus), vertigo, headaches, mood disturbances, erectile dysfunction, and intermittent claudication (leg pain on walking caused by hardening of the arteries).

The results of this study should encourage clinical trials in humans, in order to determine whether ginkgo can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Ginkgo supplementation has been associated with very few adverse side effects. There are several case reports of serious bleeding episodes occurring in people taking ginkgo; however, it was not clear whether ginkgo was the cause of these problems. The types of bleeding problems that were described in these case reports are known to occur spontaneously; therefore, the association with ginkgo use could have been a coincidence. To be on the safe side, people who have a bleeding disorder, are taking blood-thinning medications, or are scheduled for surgery should consult a doctor before taking ginkgo.

Source: Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry (2004;15:749–56)