Vitamins, Vinpocetine and Ginkgo Biloba for poor memory

One of the many issues plaguing the elderly is the ever increasing threat of memory loss. Memory is the capacity of the brain to acquire, store, and recollect information. Multiple studies have been conducted, demonstrating the deficiencies observed in the ability to recall recently acquired or processed information to the brain. In addition to these deficiencies, it has been noted that as the ability to recall information, hence memory power, decreases as the human brain ages. These symptoms are related to the condition known as “age-related memory decline.” The steady decline of the brains ability to recall information may be related to a more serious condition, called dementia. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, but rather a disease inclusive of a variety of etiologies.

For years, people have been searching for various vitamins, supplements, and herbs in order to alleviate and maybe even cure the loss of memory recollection in aging human brains. In this article, I would like to review a few interesting studies in this regard.

Researchers at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom conducted a population based study concerning the relationship between the level of folic acid, vitamin B12 and homocystine levels, which are key contributors to memory in elderly people. By studying these factors, it was suggested that an increase in the plasma levels of homocystine would be an independent risk factor for developing poor memory. This particular study commenced between 1992 and 1993. After the initial experiment, a follow up was conducted on the same 2,189 participants six years later. The follow up confirmed the initial hypothesis. Those participants, who showed signs of poor memory, along with aging memory brain symptoms, had increased levels of homocystine.

The participants showed an increased level of homocystine, sometimes as high as 1.1nmol/L. This turns out to be a statistically significant concentration. At the same time though, participants who had developed poor memory, were found to have lower levels of folic acid (on an average of 0.9 nmol/L lower) than the subjects who did not develop memory loss. By taking these factors and results into consideration, it was suggested that an increase vitamin B, and folic acid intake, in addition to having lower homocystine levels would decrease the chances of developing poor memory, aging memory brain symptoms, and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease.

Another experiment studied the relation between vitamin E and the aging brain. This particular study evaluated the relationship between the blood level due to vitamin E and poor memory in elderly people. The study was done over a general population, with 4,809 participants ranging from various ethnic and racial backgrounds. The subjects were all over the age of sixty years. It was hypothesized that vitamin E would be an important contributor in the battle against the vascular component of dementia by employ of its anti-oxidant properties. The outcome of the study further confirmed this correlation between poor memory and low blood levels of vitamin E. These amazing properties of vitamin E may also slow down the profession of the memory brain degeneration process observed in Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have indicated that a Gamma form of Tocopherol, which is a Gamma form of vitamin E, may be more physiological for the human body.

In 1997, the Journal of the American Geriatric Society published a study concerning the levels of vitamin C in beta carotene and memory brain performance. This study included 312 males and 132 females, with a mean age of 75 years. Recognition, vocabulary and free call were found to be significantly more efficient in individuals with higher plasma levels of vitamin C and beta carotene. This indicated that the maintenance of increased levels of beta carotene and vitamin C may help slow the aging memory brain manifestations and possibly prevent the development of poor memory.

Another study explores the healing possibilities of Vinpocetine. Vinpocetine is the natural product derived from the periwinkle plant. The chemical composition of Vinpocetine is more along the lines of being categorized as an indole alkaloid. In 2001, a review article stated the evaluation of 39 studies of using Vinpocetine in areas of treatment for poor memory, aging memory brain, cognitive impairment, and dementia. A total of 327 subjects were tested, where statistically significant improvements in the various areas, such as brain memory and mental state have been demonstrated. Fortunately, there were no significant side effects after using Vinpocetine, aside from the occasional mild gastrointestinal discomfort. It seemed from all the studies that a resounding approval was given to the use of Vinpocetine for its safe and effective nature on treating individuals suffering from poor memory, dementia or vascular brain disease.

T. Dadkar, along with other reviews published in 1997, talk about the clinical benefits of Ginkgo Biloba. Ginkgo Biloba is a free radical scavenger, and has been listed in improving memory brain function in multi-infact dementia and Alzheimer’s type dementia. The medicinal effects of Ginkgo Biloba are related to the neutralizing effects of the free radicals in individuals with the said neurological conditions.

Another interesting study was conducted and published in 2000. It was conducted over 14 weeks with 256 apparently healthy participants. The subjects in this study had been receiving a combination of Ginkgo Biloba and a standardized extract of Ginseng. What was interesting to note from this study was that the combination of these two significantly increased the index of memory quality. The average improvement of the memory brain score was 7.5%. It affected both the performance in long term and short term memory in a positive manner. A surprising and positive effect on the memory brain function was observed not only during the period of supplementation, but also two weeks after the cessation of the therapy.

Along with the above study, a placebo-controlled double blind study of the Ginkgo Biloba extract in elderly subjects. These subjects all showed mild to moderate form of memory impairment. The experiment was conducted and published in the Current Medical Research and Opinion in 1991. It was a six month duration trial which involved 31 participants aged 50 and older. The Ginkgo Biloba was given in the standardized extract form, in doses of 40 mg three times a day. All subjects were evaluated after 12 to 24 weeks of treatment. Due to the results, the major improvements in various indices of memory were found. From this Ginkgo Biloba is currently marked in Europe as a natural supplement to improve memory brain cognitive performance.

These two examples as well as many other studies have demonstrated that Ginkgo Biloba is a safe and efficient herbal supplement for poor memory and the aging brain.