Mind & Mood
On call: Do any memory supplements work?
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Q. Most of what I read about herbs and supplements to prevent memory loss is negative. Do any supplements help even a little?
A. There's no magic pill to protect the brain from aging and disease. Many vitamins and herbal medicines have been tested to see if they preserve memory or prevent the onset of dementia, but none have passed the test. For example, several well-designed studies have checked to see if the popular herbal supplement ginkgo biloba prevents dementia, but found no strong evidence. However, large doses of Vitamin E may slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease once it takes hold.
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