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Ginkgo Biloba in Neuro Recall: What the Largest Trial Found, the Dose Gap and Who Should Skip It

Quick answer

Ginkgo biloba is a leaf extract and the most studied memory herb. Its largest trial, GEM, gave 240 mg a day to 3,069 older adults for about 6 years and found no less decline than placebo. Neuro Recall does not print how much ginkgo is in its 635 mg blend. Taken with a blood thinner, ginkgo may add to bleeding risk.

Written by the Neuro Recall Editorial DeskUpdated

Dried ginkgo leaves in a wooden bowl

What is ginkgo biloba?

Ginkgo biloba is an extract made from the leaves of the ginkgo tree. It is the most studied herb sold for memory, and Neuro Recall lists it second in its 635 mg blend, right after cinnamon.

Type
Leaf extract
Label name
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract
Amount in Neuro Recall
Not published
Extract strength on the label
Not printed (no standard, unlike bacopa and green tea on the same panel)
Studied form
A standardized extract called EGb 761
Studied dose
120 mg twice a day, 240 mg in total

That missing strength matters. The big trials used one standardized extract, so results from those trials only describe that product at that dose. A leaf extract with no stated strength may not match it.

How is ginkgo thought to work?

The Neuro Recall brand graphics list "healthy circulation" among their claims. For ginkgo, the effect the sources confirm is narrower: it can change how blood clots. How it might act on memory itself is not explained in the sources we read.

Human studies and case reports suggest ginkgo may cause or lengthen bleeding time, and it can add to the effect of blood thinners and pain relievers such as NSAIDs (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Ginkgo (About Herbs)). That is a real action in the body. It did not turn into better memory scores in the large trials, as the rows below show.

  • Healthy circulationBrand graphic
    Marketing only

    Ginkgo acts on clotting, which is why it matters with blood thinners. No memory benefit followed in the largest trial.

  • Promotes mental clarity and focusBrand graphic
    Marketing only

    Clinical studies, GEM included, generally show ginkgo does not improve thinking.

  • Ginkgo biloba leaf extractSupplement Facts panel
    On the label

    Named in the blend, second in line.

  • Amount of ginkgo per servingSupplement Facts panel
    Not shown

    Only the 635 mg blend total is printed.

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What did studies of ginkgo for memory find?

The largest trial found no benefit. The GEM study gave ginkgo or a placebo to 3,069 adults aged 72 to 96 and followed them for a median of 6.1 years. Ginkgo did not lead to less decline in thinking, in people with normal memory or with mild cognitive impairment (JAMA 2009, Snitz et al., GEM cognitive decline trial).

3,069Older adults in the GEM trial
6.1Years of follow-up, median
240 mgGinkgo a day, as 120 mg twice
36Trials in the Cochrane review
Five sources on ginkgo and memory, one message
SourceWhat it found
GEM trial, JAMA 2009 (JAMA 2009, Snitz et al., GEM cognitive decline trial)No less decline than placebo; no area of thinking differed between groups
NCCIH (NCCIH, Ginkgo: Usefulness and Safety)Dementia rates did not differ; three large studies found no lower dementia risk
Cochrane review, 2009 (Cochrane, Ginkgo biloba for dementia and cognitive impairment)36 trials, most small and under 3 months; no convincing evidence of benefit
Memorial Sloan Kettering (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Ginkgo (About Herbs))Clinical studies generally show no better thinking
Alzheimer's Association (Alzheimer's Association, Alternative Treatments)No better than placebo at preventing or delaying Alzheimer's

NCCIH adds one caveat. Some studies hint at help for dementia symptoms at relatively high doses, but the results are inconsistent. That is about people who already have dementia, not about protecting a healthy memory.

How much ginkgo is in Neuro Recall compared with the studied dose?

Nobody outside the maker can say, because Neuro Recall does not print its ginkgo amount. What the label does allow is a ceiling check, and the numbers are tight.

The ginkgo dose gap in five lines
MeasureAmount
Daily ginkgo dose in the GEM trial240 mg
The whole WMG-NVT Exclusive Blend635 mg, shared by ten ingredients
An even split of the blendAbout 63.5 mg each, roughly a quarter of 240 mg
The most ginkgo could be, if listed by weightAbout 317 mg, half the blend
Trial doses of ginkgo, bacopa and L-theanine together740 mg, more than the whole blend
Ginkgo in Neuro RecallNot published

Why half? FDA rules ask a blend to list its ingredients from most to least by weight (FDA, Dietary Supplement Labeling Guide, Ch. IV), and ginkgo comes second, after cinnamon. If ginkgo were at the trial's 240 mg, cinnamon would need at least 240 mg too, leaving no more than 155 mg for the other eight ingredients. Possible on paper, but it would crowd out bacopa and the rest.

Read the gap both ways: Even if the blend held a full 240 mg of ginkgo, that is the dose GEM tested and found no benefit for decline. A smaller amount has even less support.

The full panel is explained on the Neuro Recall Supplement Facts page, and all 14 ingredients sit side by side in the Neuro Recall ingredients guide.

What are the side effects and interactions of ginkgo?

The common side effects are dizziness, stomach upset and headache (NCCIH, Ginkgo: Usefulness and Safety). The serious concern is bleeding, mainly for people who already take something that thins the blood.

  • Blood thinners. Ginkgo may raise bleeding risk with anticoagulants such as warfarin (NCCIH, Ginkgo: Usefulness and Safety).
  • NSAIDs and antiplatelet drugs. Ginkgo can add to their effect on clotting, as noted above.
  • Surgery or dental work. Ask the provider doing it whether to stop ginkgo beforehand, and when.
  • Pregnancy. Ginkgo may be unsafe in pregnancy, with extra caution around childbirth (Memorial Sloan Kettering, Ginkgo (About Herbs)).

In the trials themselves, ginkgo looked mild. Cochrane found no more side effects than placebo (Cochrane, Ginkgo biloba for dementia and cognitive impairment), and in GEM serious side effects, major bleeding included, did not differ significantly between groups. That does not cancel the warning for people who already take a blood thinner.

Ginkgo and bacopa together with blood thinners are covered in our article on ginkgo, bacopa and blood thinners.

Who should avoid ginkgo, or ask a doctor first?

Skip ginkgo, and Neuro Recall, if you are pregnant, nursing or under 18. Ask a doctor first if you take anything that affects bleeding. Answer the questions for a quick read; nothing is saved.

Is ginkgo a fit for you?

  1. Are you pregnant or nursing?

  2. Are you under 18?

  3. Do you take warfarin or another blood thinner?

  4. Do you take aspirin every day, or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen often?

  5. Do you have surgery or dental work coming up?

  6. Are your memory problems new, getting worse, or worrying people close to you?

Answer every question to see your result. Nothing is saved or sent.

First, a check-up: Memory loss that disrupts daily life needs a doctor, not a supplement. Low B12, thyroid problems and medicine side effects can all cause memory trouble, and they can be treated (NIA, Forgetfulness: Knowing When to Ask for Help).

What should you expect from the ginkgo in Neuro Recall?

Expect little from ginkgo for memory. The best evidence, at a known dose taken for years, found no benefit, and the amount in Neuro Recall is unknown (NCCIH, 7 Things To Know About Supplements and Alzheimer's).

Ginkgo's bigger role in this capsule is a safety one. It is the main reason anyone on a blood thinner, daily aspirin or regular NSAIDs should talk to a doctor before taking the product.

  • Tested at 240 mg a day for about 6 years: no less decline
  • Amount in this blend: not printed
  • Main caution: bleeding risk with blood thinners
  • Not a reason to delay a check-up for memory changes

Ginkgo biloba: questions people ask

Does ginkgo biloba help memory?

Large trials say no for healthy older adults. GEM gave 240 mg a day to 3,069 people for about 6 years and found no less decline than placebo.

Does ginkgo prevent dementia?

No. In GEM, dementia rates did not differ between ginkgo and placebo, and NCCIH says three large studies found no lower risk.

How much ginkgo per day?

The main trial used 120 mg twice a day, 240 mg in total, of a standardized extract, and found no benefit. Neuro Recall does not print its ginkgo amount.

How long does ginkgo take to work?

No timeline has been shown. Most trials in the Cochrane review ran under 3 months with mixed results, and GEM ran about 6 years without benefit.

Is ginkgo safe to take every day?

For many healthy adults it appears mild: in GEM, serious side effects did not differ from placebo over about 6 years. People on blood thinners should ask a doctor first.

Is ginkgo safe with blood thinners?

Ask your doctor first. NCCIH says ginkgo may raise bleeding risk with anticoagulants such as warfarin.

What are ginkgo side effects?

Dizziness, stomach upset and headache are the most common. Bleeding is the serious one, mainly with blood thinners or NSAIDs.

Is ginkgo safe for high blood pressure?

The sources we read give no blood pressure warning for ginkgo. If you take heart medicine or daily aspirin, ask your doctor before starting.

Is ginkgo safe during pregnancy?

No. NCCIH says it may be unsafe in pregnancy, and the Neuro Recall label says not to use the product if you are pregnant or nursing.

Page check

Written by

Neuro Recall Editorial Desk

Writes and fact-checks every page against the Supplement Facts panel, the back label and public health sources.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, MD, Physician

Medical reviewer. Review date: October 12, 2026.