Ginkgo is commonly taken to improve memory, but a new study says that the herb doesn’t prove helpful to prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Steven DeKosky, who led the study, says: “We have discovered that a standardized dose of ginkgo biloba doesn’t slow down the incidence rate of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease when it was given over a period of time.”

The study has been published in the Nov.19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In the United States, Alzheimer’s disease is affecting almost 5 people at present. Currently, no medications have been approved for the primary prevention of the disease. However, some previous short term trials have shown that there may be a slight benefit from ginkgo for people with dementia. A study finds that ginkgo biloba of worth $250 million is consumed in the United States every year.

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