Older adults who used the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba for several years did not have a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to adults who received placebo, according to a new study.

“Ginkgo biloba is marketed widely and used with the hope of improving, preventing, or delaying cognitive impairment associated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease,” says Beth E. Snitz, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues. “Indeed, in the United States and particularly in Europe, Gingko biloba is perhaps the most widely used herbal treatment consumed specifically to prevent age-related cognitive decline.”

However, evidence from large clinical trials regarding its effect on long-term cognitive functioning is lacking.

“In sum, we find no evidence that Gingko biloba slows the rate of cognitive decline in older adults. These findings are consistent with previous smaller studies examining prevention of decline and facilitation of cognitive performance and with the 2009 Cochrane review of Gingko biloba for dementia and cognitive impairment.”

Source: ScienceDaily — “Gingko Biloba Does Not Appear to Slow Rate of Cognitive Decline.”

“We found that for older people with minimal experience, performing Internet searches for even a relatively short period of time can change brain activity patterns and enhance function,” said study author Dr. Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and the author of “iBrain,” a book that describes the impact of new technology on the brain and behavior.

When performing an Internet search, the ability to hold important information in working memory and to extract the important points from competing graphics and words is essential, says Small’s co-researcher.

Previous research by the UCLA team found that searching online resulted in a more than twofold increase in brain activation in older adults with prior experience, compared with those with little Internet experience. According to Small, the new findings suggest that it may take only days for those with minimal experience to match the activity levels of those with years of experience.

Source: University of California – Los Angeles.

Hope to see more of you in cyberspace……and if you ever want to write a guest post that contains brain tips here on Quips and Tips, just let me know. I’d be happy to have you!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hi since it seems like we have some similar interests … I just started following you on Twitter so I’ll be able to keepp tabs on your various musings about psychology and mental wellness.

And for those of you looking for some more tips to stay sharp, you might want to check out my post on the topic at Play With Your Mind.com.

What’s especially cool is that even if you can’t – or don’t want to – smell scents such as ginger or lemons, those odours directly affect the neurotransmitters in your brain. Various smells, even when they’re undetectable, can almost immediately lift your spirits by increasing your serotonin and norepinephrine levels (those “happy” hormones!).

So even if your nose is plugged from a cold or allergies, smelling lemons or sandalwood still affects your brain and emotions (citrus scents like lemon improve your mood).

This isn’t really a brain fitness tip or a way to reduce memory loss, but I found it fascinating!

Thanks for your comment, Erin — it’s great to have you here.

I’ve been taking an Omega-3 supplement ever since I wrote my article for Health magazine, about staying sharp as you get older. DHA and EPA are fatty acid impoortant for brain fitness and brain health — and I think EPA is slightly more important.

One brain expert — Sam Wang, a neuroscientist at Princeton and author of “Welcome to Your Brain” told me that exercise is the #1 way to improve brain health! It gets the blood flowing and oxygen pumping…so now I make sure I exercise at least 20 minutes every day and take my Omege-3 with my multivitamin for breakfast.

If anyone wants me to write an article with more info about brain health — or has a question about brain health — please let me know! I’d be happy to.

Laurie

I like the idea of variety, and always striving to learn new things. This seems like an easy brain fitness tip because it’s fun

By the way, I just wrote an article for Health magazine about sharpening your thinking skills. It should be out in the September, 2009 issue…now if I can only remember to buy a copy…