Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To determine the efficacy of Ginkgo biloba for the prevention of dementia in individuals without dementia. English databases including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO, were searched, and randomized double-blind controlled studies comparing Ginkgo biloba with placebo in prevention of dementia were considered. Two trials met inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad criteria. Meta-analysis of the two trials involving 5,889 participants indicated no significant difference in dementia rate between Ginkgo biloba and the placebo (347/2,951 vs. 330/2,938, odds ratio = 1.05, 95% CI 0.89-1.23) and there was no considerable heterogeneity between the trials. The two studies revealed no statistically significant differences in the rate of serious adverse effect between Ginko biloba and the placebo. There is no convincing evidence from this review that demonstrated Ginkgo biloba in late-life can prevent the development of dementia. Using it for this indication is not suggested at present.