Memory Pills: Should You Forget About Them?
For: Forget About It, May 2002
One day you may be able to take a pill—or eat a food—that will improve your memory. In drug and health-food stores and on hundreds of Internet sites, you'll find a plethora of products that claim to improve your brain power, and in particular to correct the memory problems most of us experience as we grow older. Such claims are easy to make, since no proof is needed. Here's a small sample of what's out there.
Ginkgo biloba
This herb is all the rage for memory dysfunction. As we reported in January 1998, one small study showed that ginkgo biloba improved behavior and mental function in some Alzheimer's patients—modestly and for a limited time. It was about as effective as tacrine, a not-very-successful prescription drug. Other small studies have had similar findings. But commercially available ginkgo products probably do not contain the same preparation of herbs used in the study. Ginkgo biloba does show promise for treating circulatory disorders. But even the many European doctors who use it do not claim that it cures anything. No good study has shown ginkgo to be beneficial for healthy older people with normal memory problems.
Ginseng
This herb undoubtedly has pharmacological effects, but there's no consistent evidence to support its use as a memory builder. A recent review in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that research on the benefits of ginseng has been inconclusive and called for more rigorous investigations. Until good studies are conducted with real, standardized ginseng, we're still in the dark.
Vitamins
Some research has suggested that low blood levels of B vitamins (folic acid, B-6, and B-12) go along with impaired mental abilities in older people. For instance, a study conducted in Calgary, Alberta, found that mentally impaired people commonly had low blood levels of folic acid. That may simply reflect their poor eating habits. Other research has found that high levels of vitamin C or E are associated with reduced memory loss. All this may mean is that a diet rich in these vitamins promotes health in general. It's unlikely that well-nourished people can improve their memory by taking vitamin pills.
Choline
Found in most foods and now classified as a nutrient, this compound performs many important functions in the body. Among other things, it is essential for brain development in the fetus, and laboratory rats given prenatal choline supplements have better memories as they age than other rats. A recent article in Science theorizes that humans who get a high level of dietary choline early in life may indeed be more intelligent and retain their mental abilities as they age. But no one knows whether consuming choline later in life has any effect at all. Meats and vegetables are rich in it.
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
This substance, found in all our cells, is now a hot supplement, boosted by a book called The Memory Cure. Don't fall for the extravagant claims made by the book. Some studies suggest that PS has slight benefits as a treatment for Alzheimer's, but there's no indication that it can improve memory in healthy people.
Huperzine A
This supplement, derived from a type of Chinese moss, is now under study as a potential Alzheimer's drug. Doctors in China use a purified form of it for treating dementia. But there's no proof yet that it will help people with Alzheimer's, and certainly no indication that it will help healthy people improve their memory.
Second thoughts
Forgetfulness as you grow older does not mean you have dementia. Moreover, there are many kinds of dementias, including Alzheimer's. If you are experiencing severe problems, you need a medical diagnosis. Some dementias are reversible. Four prescription drugs have been approved for treating Alzheimer's—unfortunately, none of them works very well.
Until further research is done on ways to correct memory lapses, we advise you to forget one thing—the claims of supplement makers. So far, there's no brain supplement that will help you recall a name or find your keys. To keep your mind functioning at a high level, mental workouts are best. Use the powers you have. Cultivate your interests, learn something new, take a course, read more. Play games that exercise your memory, your powers of concentration, and your analytic ability. Physical workouts also help maintain your brain, as does a healthy diet. For more details, see the WELLNESS LETTER, January 1999.
UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, October 2000
