Trending
In 488 dementia patients with a history of stroke, 240 mg/day of a specific ginkgo extract improved cognition — but the effect was modest and the p-value hovered near the borderline.
This meta-analysis adds to a moderate body of evidence (5 of 7 studies showing benefit) that ginkgo may help cognition in a very specific clinical population — people with dementia after a cerebral infarction — but the small effect size and narrow patient group mean the results don't apply to healthy adults or general memory concerns.
Researchers pooled data from 488 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia who had previously had a stroke and found that 240 mg/day of the standardized ginkgo extract EGb 761 led to a statistically significant improvement in cognition compared to placebo. The same analysis also found benefits for daily living activities and overall clinical impression, with no safety concerns. However, the cognitive effect was moderate, the p-value was just barely significant (0.0467), and the results only apply to this specific clinical group — not to healthy people hoping to sharpen their memory.
Where this fits in the evidence
Pillser has synthesized 9 studies on Ginkgo for Improved Cognitive Function — overall evidence strength: Moderate.
Across 9 studies, 7 reported beneficial effects of ginkgo on cognitive function, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate (mixed). The most studied dose was 240 mg daily (standardized extract EGb 761), and effects were observed primarily in elderly clinical populations with mild cognitive impairment, dementia, or post-stroke cognitive impairment. Median study duration was 70 days, but only 2 of 9 studies reported duration.
The study
- Systematic Review
- n = 488
- 2026-03-13
- Frontiers in neurology
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.