Ginger is a potential cognitive enhancer for middle-aged women. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Zingiber officinale Improves Cognitive Function of the Middle-Aged Healthy Women.
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012 ;2012:383062. Epub 2011 Dec 22. PMID: 22235230
Neuroscience Program and Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
The development of cognitive enhancers from plants possessing antioxidants has gained much attention due to the role of oxidative stress-induced cognitive impairment. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of ginger extract, or Zingiber officinale, on the cognitive function of middle-aged, healthy women. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or standardized plant extract at doses of 400 and 800 mg once daily for 2 months. They were evaluated for working memory and cognitive function using computerized battery tests and the auditory oddball paradigm of event-related potentials at three different time periods: before receiving the intervention, one month, and two months. We found that theginger-treated groups had significantly decreased P300 latencies, increased N100 and P300 amplitudes, and exhibited enhanced working memory. Therefore, ginger is a potential cognitive enhancer for middle-aged women.