R.D. The graying of America has brought herbs like Ginkgo biloba to center stage.
Many supplements tout increased mental sharpness.
Few, however, have the science to back up their claims. Ginkgo biloba, a common ingredient in many brain-booster formulas, may be an exception. Widely studied in Europe, and more recently in the United States, ginkgo has some health experts taking notice. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study of ginkgo for treatment of dementia in October 1997. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a branch of the National Institute of Health, has plans for a large study of its effect on individuals with mild dementia.