Ginkgo biloba has failed to live up to its reputation for boosting memory and brain function. Just over a year after a study showed that it doesn't prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease, a new study has found no evidence that ginkgo reduces the normal cognitive decline that comes with aging.
In the new study, the largest of its kind to date, researchers followed more than 3,000 people between the ages of 72 and 96 for an average of six years. Half of the participants took two 120-milligram capsules of ginkgo each day during the study period, and the other half took a placebo.
The people who took ginkgo showed no differences in attention, memory, and other cognitive measures compared to those who took the placebo.
There are, however, many healthy habits you can try to help keep your brain healthy:
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Exercise your mind. Activities that stimulate the brain appear to delay the onset of dementia.
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Exercise your body. The evidence linking physical activity with slower cognitive decline is convincing.
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Manage stress. Staying as stress-free as possible is important for your long-term brain function.
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Eat right. Diets that are good for the heart are also believed to have beneficial effects on the brain.
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Make friends. Having a rich social life may help delay cognitive decline.