Ginkgo biloba and cognition
What 4 graded rows on ginkgo biloba agree on for cognition, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Ginkgo biloba page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Ginkgo biloba page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Ginkgo biloba and cognition
4 rows · 9,062 peopleSplit. 2 rows found an improvement and 2 found no difference.
- BGrade B× 2
- ∅No effect× 2
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 22
- People
- 9,062
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade B, is a meta-analysis of 2,801 people (2026) and found an improvement. 2 rows are graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
Only the 2 rows that found no difference name older adults in their population.
The rows
2 improved · 2 no difference- BGrade BCognition, daily living and global status in dementia · Improved
Meta-analysis, 9 studies · n 2,801 · 2026 · People with dementia in placebo-controlled trials (13 trials, 3,288 participants)
Varied across trials · 6 months (outcome time point)
Low-certainty evidence of small to moderate benefits at six months: better cognition on the Syndrom-Kurztest (9 trials, 2,801 people), slightly better daily living scores and better global status. Adverse events were no more common than with placebo.
Row on the Ginkgo biloba page · PubMed 41641880 (opens PubMed)
- BGrade BCognition and function in existing dementia · Improved
Meta-analysis, 9 studies · n 2,561 · 2015 · People with cognitive impairment or dementia in 9 trials
Mainly 240 mg/day · 22–26 weeks
EGb 761 at 240 mg/day stabilised or slowed decline in cognition, function and behaviour versus placebo.
Row on the Ginkgo biloba page · PubMed 25114079 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectRate of cognitive decline · No difference
RCT · n 3,069 · 2009 · Adults aged 72–96 in the GEM study
120 mg twice daily · Median 6.1 years
Annual decline in memory, attention and other domains did not differ from placebo.
Row on the Ginkgo biloba page · PubMed 20040554 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectGlobal status and cognition in mild cognitive impairment · No difference
Meta-analysis, 3 studies · n 631 · 2026 · People with mild cognitive impairment (12 placebo-controlled trials, 1,913 participants)
Varied across trials · 6 months (outcome time point)
Moderate-certainty evidence that ginkgo probably has little or no effect at six months on global status (3 trials, 631 people), cognition (ADAS-cog, 2 trials, 508 people) or daily activities. Serious adverse events did not differ from placebo.
Row on the Ginkgo biloba page · PubMed 41641880 (opens PubMed)