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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic

BE WARY OF TREATING ‘MEMORY LOSS’ WITH GINKGO BILOBA

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Please discuss ginkgo biloba and its use as a treatment for aiding memory. My wife and I are in our mid-80s and are aware of decreasing ability to remember very recent items. Are there any dangerous side effects of this treatment? —Ontario, Canada

ANSWER: Ginkgo biloba is a compound that has been studied a little in this country and more extensively in Europe. Some studies suggest that it may, in fact, enhance cognitive function. But it certainly is not an accepted or proven remedy for memory impairment or cognitive-function problems.

A large National Institutes of Health trial is under way to study the effects of ginkgo biloba in preventing cognitive impairment. The results won’t be out for several years, so this is a wait-and-see situation.

As to its health effects: Just because something is sold over the counter doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Here are some reasons to be wary:

Supplements like ginkgo can dangerously interact with other medications you’re taking.
There is some evidence linking gingko to increased bleeding.
Because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not currently regulate supplements, you can’t count on the preparation’s purity or strength.

Understand that some memory loss is natural with aging. Some of it is biologically based, and some of it is related to “effort problems” — we don’t always make the best effort to recall every detail. We forget things because we are distracted, busy and caught up in our routines.

Also know that some memory lapses are more significant than others. For example, forgetting to turn the porch light off when you leave for work is different from forgetting to attend a special birthday dinner. If you’re truly concerned that you or your wife is experiencing a decline in memory, ask your friends if they have noticed a change. You may want to see your personal physician to discuss this situation in greater detail.

Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center;
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Additional Resources:
Treatment of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Appointment Information
More Information on Mild Cognitive Impairment
Information on Ginkgo Biloba

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am a 57-year-old woman and just learned that the cause of my mother’s death (when I was 4 years old) was breast cancer. No one talked about it before. She was just always described as “sickly” and “frail.” But recently when I took my father for an exam with a new doctor, the doctor asked him about our family cancer history. That’s when I found out! What does this mean for me and my sisters? — Charleston, S.C.

ANSWER: Yes, a family history of breast cancer can be associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are caused by a genetic mutation. However, most breast cancers occur randomly. Having a mother, sister or daughter — a “first-degree relative” — diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50 is a known risk factor for developing the disease.

In regard to your health and that of your sisters: You should all evaluate your personal risk factors for breast cancer with the help of an experienced physician. Meeting with a genetic counselor to assess your hereditary cancer risk also can be beneficial. The genetic counselor can help you decide whether or not to pursue genetic testing for a mutation associated with breast cancer known as the BRCA mutation.

You can also use an excellent online resource that is approved by the National Cancer Institute to determine your risk of breast cancer, at www.breastcancerprevention.org.
This fast, free, reliable computerized risk-assessment tool — also called the modified “Gail Model” — consists of 12 basic questions, such as “age at first menstrual period.” It gives you a “score” in about 30 seconds, based on your age and other answers. If your score is 1.66 or greater, you’re considered at high risk of developing breast cancer in the next five years. You should take this information to your doctor to plan a course of close surveillance.

Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., General Internal Medicine and Breast Diagnostic Clinic;
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Additional Resources:
Treatment of Breast Cancer
Appointment Information
More Information on Breast Cancer

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Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org, or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.