Ginkgo Biloba for Cognitive Function

Research suggests that Ginkgo biloba extract — particularly the standardized form known as EGb 761 — may offer modest benefits for cognitive function, especially in older adults experiencing cognitive decline or early-stage dementia, with a 2015 meta-analysis of over 2,500 patients and a 2024 systematic review of 15 clinical trials both reporting improvements in cognition, daily functioning, and neuropsychiatric symptoms compared to placebo. The body of evidence spans multiple study types, including meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and animal studies, and its overall direction is mixed to cautiously supportive — animal research consistently shows learning and memory benefits, while clinical findings in humans are more variable, with a large 2026 Cochrane review concluding that ginkgo probably provides little meaningful benefit for people with subjective memory complaints or mild cognitive impairment, and only small, uncertain improvements for those already diagnosed with dementia. Some reviews note that ginkgo may work best in combination with conventional dementia medications rather than as a standalone treatment, though evidence for that use remains limited, and at least one 2024 clinical overview classifies ginkgo as ineffective for Alzheimer's disease specifically. Across studies, ginkgo appears generally well-tolerated, but researchers consistently call for larger, more rigorously designed trials to resolve questions about optimal dosing, long-term safety, drug interactions, and which populations, if any, are most likely to benefit.