Ginkgo fails to prevent Alzheimer's in large study

[Gord_in_Toronto]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gRrHkoXVBLmxXtEyM4T_BFsFNUEAD94HJP9G0

CHICAGO (AP) — The dietary supplement ginkgo, long promoted as an aid to memory, didn't help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease in the longest and largest test of the extract in older Americans. "We don't think it has a future as a powerful anti-dementia drug," said Dr. Steven DeKosky of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, who led the federally funded study.

"It would have been terrific if this worked. It's inexpensive, available and relatively safe," said Paul Solomon, professor of neuroscience at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., who wasn't involved in the new study but has studied ginkgo.


"Now with this kind of evidence, you can confidently tell people it didn't show benefit in more than 3,000 people in six years of research," Solomon said.

However:

There may still be a role for ginkgo in treating, rather than preventing, Alzheimer's disease, said Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association, a trade association.

They never give up do they?

And the report of the study does not say that more study is required -- this may be a first for the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

 

[geni]

Eh there appears to be some promising real medcine in the Alzheimers field so the herbal mob may be about to lose a market in any case.

 

[Aerik]

ack! I'm having a heart attack from not being surprised

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Eh there appears to be some promising real medcine in the Alzheimers field so the herbal mob may be about to lose a market in any case.

Yes. New medications may work but they won't be "natural".

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

ack! I'm having a heart attack from not being surprised

Quick drink this homeopathic remedy distilled water.

 

[tyr_13]

I forgot what I was going to say.

 

[casebro]

Have you heard about the newest combined medication for old folks? It's a new poly-pill:

Gingko-Viagra. It's supposed to help you remember what the ____ you were doing!

 

[Eos of the Eons]

Have you heard about the newest combined medication for old folks? It's a new poly-pill:

Gingko-Viagra. It's supposed to help you remember what the ____ you were doing!