Ginkgo Biloba and Memory: What Research Shows

Ginkgo biloba is a leaf extract from one of the oldest surviving tree species, sold widely as a supplement and long marketed for memory. Here is the honest answer the packaging tends to skip: in the largest, most rigorous trials, ginkgo has not been shown to improve memory in healthy adults or to prevent cognitive decline, and no UK health claim links it to memory or thinking.

That is a very different message from the one on most ginkgo bottles, so it is worth understanding where it comes from. This article covers what ginkgo actually is, what people take it for, what the better trials found when they tested it properly, and the safety points that matter, especially if you take any blood-thinning medication. It sits within our wider guide to memory and learning, which covers how memory works and what the evidence does and does not support.

What is ginkgo biloba, and why do people take it for memory?

Ginkgo biloba is an extract made from the leaves of the ginkgo (maidenhair) tree, most often sold as a standardised preparation called EGb 761. It has been used in traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and modern supplements are marketed for circulation and memory. That marketing history, rather than settled evidence, is the main reason ginkgo and memory are so closely linked in people's minds.

The interest is not baseless in theory. Ginkgo contains flavonoids and terpenoids, and laboratory work suggests it can influence blood flow and act as an antioxidant, mechanisms that researchers have proposed might be relevant to brain function.¹ The catch is a familiar one in supplement science: a plausible mechanism in a test tube is a long way from a measurable effect in a person. This is the same gap that runs through the wider category of nootropics, where the marketing often outpaces the trial data.

So when you ask whether ginkgo "works", what you are really asking is whether it lives up to that memory reputation. That is a fair question to put to the evidence, and here the evidence has answered it more clearly than it does for most supplements.

Does ginkgo biloba work for memory?

For healthy adults hoping to sharpen their memory, the controlled evidence is discouraging. In the largest trial of its kind, 230 healthy adults over 60 were randomised to either ginkgo or a placebo for six weeks, and the researchers found no measurable difference on objective memory tests or on participants' own ratings of their memory.² Taken as directed, ginkgo simply did not outperform a dummy pill.

That single trial is not an outlier. A meta-analysis pooling studies of ginkgo in healthy people concluded that it is not a cognitive enhancer in this group, finding no convincing, consistent effect on memory, attention, or executive function.³ When several studies point the same way, the result is harder to dismiss as a one-off.

Here is the thing worth sitting with: ginkgo is also one of the most heavily studied herbal supplements for cognition, so this is not a case of "not enough research yet". It has been tested repeatedly, and for healthy adults the benefit people expect has not shown up.

What did the large ginkgo memory trials actually find?

The most important evidence comes from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) study, one of the largest and longest trials ever run on the supplement. More than 3,000 community-dwelling adults aged 75 and over took 120 mg of EGb 761 twice daily, or a placebo, for a median of around six years.⁴ It was designed specifically to test whether ginkgo could protect ageing brains.

It could not. Ginkgo did not reduce the overall rate of dementia or Alzheimer's disease compared with placebo.⁴ A linked analysis of the same participants looked at cognitive decline directly and reached the same conclusion: ginkgo did not slow the decline in memory, attention, language, or other thinking skills as people aged.⁵ Two questions, one large trial, and the same null result both times.

The table below sets out what the main studies actually examined and found, rather than what ginkgo is marketed to do.

Can ginkgo biloba treat dementia or Alzheimer's disease?

No. Ginkgo is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or age-related memory loss, and it should not be used in place of medical care. The picture in diagnosed dementia is more mixed than in healthy adults, but "mixed" is the operative word, and it does not add up to an established treatment.

Some meta-analyses of the standardised extract EGb 761 in people already diagnosed with dementia have reported effects on cognitive and functional outcomes.⁶ Set against that, the Cochrane review, which is the most rigorous synthesis of the trials, judged the overall evidence for ginkgo in cognitive impairment and dementia to be inconsistent and unreliable, with no convincing demonstration of benefit.⁷ When the highest-quality review reaches a cautious verdict, that is the one to weight most heavily.

Here is the practical takeaway, and it is straightforward. Dementia is a medical condition that needs proper assessment, and memory changes can have many causes, some of them treatable. If you are worried about your memory or that of someone close to you, see your GP rather than reaching for a supplement.

Why isn't ginkgo allowed to claim a memory benefit in the UK?

Because the evidence has not met the bar regulators require. Health claims on food supplements in Great Britain are controlled, and a claim can only be made if it appears as authorised on the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register. Ginkgo has no authorised cognitive or memory claim: like many botanical claims, ginkgo's were left "on hold" and unauthorised when the register carried over after EU exit.⁸

There is a second regulatory signal that often surprises people. Some ginkgo products are licensed in the UK as traditional herbal medicines under the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme, which is based on long-standing use rather than proof of effectiveness. Even then, the registered uses are for the symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome and tinnitus, not memory or cognition.⁹ So neither the claims register nor the herbal-medicine route endorses ginkgo for memory. If you want to know which nutrients do have better support, our review of evidence-based supplements for memory support is a more useful place to look.

Is ginkgo biloba safe, and who should avoid it?

For most healthy adults, ginkgo is generally well tolerated, with side effects that tend to be mild, such as stomach upset or headache. The more important issue is not common side effects but a specific safety interaction that everyone considering ginkgo should know about.

Ginkgo has a recognised theoretical effect on blood clotting and may increase the risk of bleeding, although the controlled evidence for a clinically significant effect is mixed.¹⁰ That matters most if you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin, an antiplatelet medicine such as clopidogrel or low-dose aspirin, or regular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), because the bleeding risk can add up. For the same reason, the standard advice is to stop ginkgo well before any planned surgery or dental procedure. Ginkgo is also not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding, where safety has not been established.

None of this means ginkgo is dangerous for everyone, but it does mean it is not a "just try it, what's the harm" supplement. Because it can interact with common medicines, the sensible step is to speak to a GP or pharmacist before starting ginkgo, particularly if you take any medication or have a bleeding disorder.

How should you think about ginkgo for your memory?

The clearest way to read the evidence is this: ginkgo is a well-studied supplement that has been given a fair test for memory and has not delivered. That is genuinely useful to know, because it lets you redirect effort towards things that do move the needle rather than spending money on one that does not.

The fundamentals are unglamorous but far better supported: sleep, physical activity, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, staying socially and mentally engaged, and a broadly Mediterranean-style diet. These shape long-term brain health in ways no single capsule can match. If you are still interested in the supplement question, it pays to compare ingredients on the strength of their evidence rather than their reputation, which is the lens we apply across our brain supplements range and guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ginkgo biloba actually improve memory?

In healthy adults, the controlled evidence says no. The largest trial found no measurable difference between ginkgo and placebo on memory tests after six weeks, and a meta-analysis of studies in healthy people found no consistent cognitive benefit. Ginkgo is widely marketed for memory, but that marketing is not matched by the trial results.

What is the difference between ginkgo's traditional use and proven benefit?

Traditional use just means a herb has been used in a particular way for a long time. That is not the same as evidence it works. In the UK, ginkgo's traditional herbal registrations cover the symptoms of Raynaud's and tinnitus, and no memory claim is authorised on the Great Britain register. Long use and proven effectiveness are different standards.

Did the GEM study show any benefit from ginkgo?

No. The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study followed more than 3,000 older adults for around six years and found that ginkgo did not reduce the rate of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and a linked analysis found it did not slow cognitive decline. It is one of the largest and longest trials of the supplement, and what stands out is that the result was null on both questions.

Can I take ginkgo biloba with warfarin or aspirin?

This is exactly the situation to check with a healthcare professional first. Ginkgo can affect blood clotting and may increase bleeding risk, so combining it with an anticoagulant such as warfarin, an antiplatelet such as aspirin or clopidogrel, or regular NSAIDs is a recognised concern. Speak to a GP or pharmacist before combining them.

Is ginkgo biloba safe to take long term?

For most healthy adults it is generally well tolerated, with mild side effects such as stomach upset or headache. The main caution is its effect on bleeding and its interaction with blood-thinning medicines, and it is not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Because of those interactions, ask a GP or pharmacist before taking it long term.

Supporting Your Brain Health with BrainSmart

The honest position on ginkgo is that the evidence does not support taking it for memory, and the fundamentals of sleep, exercise, and diet do far more for your brain than any single capsule.

Where supplements have a role, it is as one part of that bigger picture, chosen on the evidence behind specific nutrients. If you are exploring that question, BrainSmart Memory sits alongside the evidence-led guidance in our Knowledge Centre.

Related Reading

These guides go deeper on memory, supplements, and how to read the evidence behind brain health claims.

• Memory and Learning: How Your Brain Stores and Strengthens Information
  The pillar guide this article belongs to, covering how memory actually works.
• Evidence-Based Supplements for Memory Support
  What the data does and does not support across the popular memory supplements.
• Nootropics Explained: What They Are and How They Work
  The wider category of cognitive-support compounds and how to judge them.
• The Complete Brain Supplement Buying Guide
  How to assess a supplement's evidence, dosing, and quality before you buy.
• Choline and Brain Health
  A closer look at a nutrient with a genuine role in brain function.
• Brain Health After 50
  Evidence-based ways to support cognition as you age.
• The Science of Attention: Why Your Brain Loses Focus
  How attention feeds the memory systems that depend on it.
• The Complete Guide to Cognitive Performance
  The bigger picture of mental sharpness and what supports it.
• Vitamins for Memory: Which Nutrients Have the Evidence
  Which vitamins and minerals carry authorised UK claims for normal brain and cognitive function, and which do not.

References

1. Kennedy DO, Wightman EL. Herbal extracts and phytochemicals: plant secondary metabolites and the enhancement of human brain function. Advances in Nutrition. 2011;2(1):32-50.
2. Solomon PR, Adams F, Silver A, Zimmer J, DeVeaux R. Ginkgo for memory enhancement: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2002;288(7):835-840. doi:10.1001/jama.288.7.835
3. Laws KR, Sweetnam H, Kondel TK. Is Ginkgo biloba a cognitive enhancer in healthy individuals? A meta-analysis. Human Psychopharmacology. 2012;27(6):527-533. doi:10.1002/hup.2259
4. DeKosky ST, Williamson JD, Fitzpatrick AL, et al. Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2008;300(19):2253-2262. doi:10.1001/jama.2008.683
5. Snitz BE, O'Meara ES, Carlson MC, et al. Ginkgo biloba for preventing cognitive decline in older adults: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2009;302(24):2663-2670. doi:10.1001/jama.2009.1913
6. Weinmann S, Roll S, Schwarzbach C, Vauth C, Willich SN. Effects of Ginkgo biloba in dementia: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatrics. 2010;10:14. doi:10.1186/1471-2318-10-14
7. Birks J, Grimley Evans J. Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2009;(1):CD003120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003120.pub3
8. Department of Health and Social Care, Food Standards Agency. Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims (NHC) Register. GOV.UK. Accessed June 2026.
9. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Herbal medicines granted a Traditional Herbal Registration (THR). GOV.UK. Accessed June 2026.
10. Bone KM. Potential interaction of Ginkgo biloba leaf with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs: what is the evidence? Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. 2008;52(7):764-771. doi:10.1002/mnfr.200700098

Tom Kaplan

Brain Health Writer at BrainSmart

Tom Kaplan is a specialist health writer focused on cognitive health, brain nutrition, and evidence-based approaches to supporting mental performance across the lifespan. His work draws on peer-reviewed research across neuroscience, nutritional psychiatry, and cognitive psychology, translating complex clinical findings into clear, practical guidance that helps readers make informed decisions about their brain health. Read Full Bio →