Does Ginkgo Biloba Improve Memory? Healthy Adults Saw No Gain in Trials
Trials in healthy people found no memory benefit, and two large long-term trials found no lower dementia risk. A modest signal appears only in people who already have dementia.
By Kymata Health Editorial Published Last checked
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Key takeaways
From 8 sources- A meta-analysis of 13 memory trials in healthy people found an effect close to zero2.
- In a 6-week trial of 230 healthy adults over 60, ginkgo did not beat placebo on any memory, attention or self-rated measure1.
- The NIH-funded GEM trial (3,069 adults aged 75 or older, median 6.1 years) found no lower dementia rate or slower cognitive decline34.
- In people who already have cognitive impairment or dementia, 9 trials of one extract found small benefits over 22 to 26 weeks, mainly at 240 mg a day6.
- Ginkgo may add to bleeding risk with anticoagulants such as warfarin and may be unsafe in pregnancy8.
What this article covers
1 evidence profileThe evidence, graded
Pulled from the trial tables in our evidence profiles. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Graded findings
4 rows- ∅No effectIncident dementia in older adultsNo effect Dementia and Alzheimer incidence did not differ from placebo.Ginkgo biloba · RCT · n=3,069 · 2008 · PMID 19017911
- ∅No effectRate of cognitive declineNo effect Annual decline in memory, attention and other domains did not differ from placebo.Ginkgo biloba · RCT · n=3,069 · 2009 · PMID 20040554
- ∅No effectProgression to Alzheimer diseaseNo effect Long-term use did not reduce progression to Alzheimer disease versus placebo.Ginkgo biloba · RCT · n=2,854 · 2012 · PMID 22959217
- BGrade BCognition and function in existing dementiaImproved EGb 761 at 240 mg/day stabilised or slowed decline in cognition, function and behaviour versus placebo.Ginkgo biloba · Meta-analysis · n=2,561 · 2015 · PMID 25114079
Memory in healthy adults
In a 6-week trial, 230 healthy adults over 60 took 40 mg of ginkgo three times a day, following the label directions, or placebo1. There were no differences on tests of learning, memory, attention, concentration or naming, on self-rated memory, or on ratings by friends and relatives1.
A 2012 meta-analysis pooled randomized trials in healthy people: 13 on memory, 7 on executive function and 8 on attention2. Effect sizes were close to zero and not significant for all three, and did not change with age, dose or trial length2.
Long-term trials on dementia risk
The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study gave 3,069 adults aged 75 or older 120 mg twice a day or placebo, with a median follow-up of 6.1 years3. Dementia developed in 277 people on ginkgo and 246 on placebo, a hazard ratio of 1.12 that was not significant3. Annual decline in memory, attention, language and other domains also did not differ4.
GEM was funded mainly by the US National Institutes of Health; Schwabe Pharmaceuticals, maker of the extract, donated the tablets and placebos and, per the paper, had no role in the study's design or conduct3.
The French GuidAge trial followed 2,854 adults aged 70 or older with memory complaints for 5 years on the same dose5. Progression to Alzheimer disease did not differ significantly from placebo (hazard ratio 0.84), though the authors note the risk was not proportional over time5. GuidAge was funded by Ipsen5.
People who already have dementia
A 2015 meta-analysis pooled 9 trials of 2,561 people with cognitive impairment or dementia, all testing the extract EGb 7616. Over 22 to 26 weeks, cognition, daily activities and clinicians' global ratings favoured ginkgo, mainly at 240 mg a day6.
These findings apply to people with a diagnosis, not to healthy adults looking for a memory boost62. NCCIH describes the dementia evidence as inconsistent8.
Safety and who should avoid it
NCCIH says ginkgo leaf extract is likely safe for most adults in moderate amounts, with dizziness, stomach upset and headache as the most common side effects8. A meta-analysis of 18 trials that measured clotting tests, not bleeding events, did not indicate a higher bleeding risk7. In GEM, major bleeding did not differ between groups, though there were 16 haemorrhagic strokes on ginkgo versus 8 on placebo, a difference the authors called small and not significant3. NCCIH still lists these cautions:
- People on anticoagulants such as warfarin: NCCIH says ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding8. GEM stopped the study pills in anyone who started warfarin because of this concern, so the large trials do not show what happens when the two are combined3.
- Pregnancy: ginkgo may be unsafe and might cause early labour or extra bleeding during delivery8.
- Anyone tempted by ginkgo seeds: fresh seeds are toxic, and roasted seeds have caused serious side effects8.
Quick answers
Common questions
3 answersWhat dose was tested?
How long before ginkgo works?
Can I take ginkgo with warfarin or other blood thinners?
NCCIH says ginkgo may increase bleeding risk with anticoagulants, so ask a clinician first8.
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3 products Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickBotanic ChoiceBotanic Choice Ginkgo Biloba Extract, 60 mg, 60 capsules
1 capsule: 60 mg ginkgo leaf extract (24% flavone glycosides, 6% terpene lactones); label directions 1 capsule twice daily
$10.00one-timeChecked Oct 12, 2026 - SupersmartGinkgo Biloba5% off with the Supersmart newsletterGet 5% off with the newsletter (paid link, opens in new tab)
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3 capsules: 180 mg leaf extract standardised to 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones (the standardisation used in the large trials); 30 servings
$16.90one-time$14.36subscribeOn sale from $26 on 2026-10-11Checked Oct 11, 2026 - HerbsProNOW Foods Ginkgo Biloba, 120 mg, 100 Vcaps
1 veg capsule: 120 mg ginkgo leaf extract with 250 mg organic eleuthero root
$12.27one-timeChecked Oct 14, 2026
References
8 sources. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited in this article
8 sources- 1Ginkgo for memory enhancement: a randomized controlled trialJAMA, 2002 · PMID 12186600
- 2Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysisHum Psychopharmacol, 2012 · PMID 23001963
- 3Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trialJAMA, 2008 · PMID 19017911
- 4Ginkgo biloba for preventing cognitive decline in older adults: a randomized trialJAMA, 2009 · PMID 20040554
- 5Long-term use of standardised Ginkgo biloba extract for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (GuidAge): a randomised placebo-controlled trialLancet Neurol, 2012 · PMID 22959217
- 6Efficacy and adverse effects of ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysisJ Alzheimers Dis, 2015 · PMID 25114079
- 7Is there a risk of bleeding associated with standardized Ginkgo biloba extract therapy? A systematic review and meta-analysisPharmacotherapy, 2011 · PMID 21923430
- 8Ginkgo (Last Updated: February 2025)National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2025
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