London: Research on the herbal remedy, ginkgo biloba, has concluded that it does not help treat Alzheimer’s disease.

The Chinese remedy is taken by one in ten sufferers of dementia, but new research by the Alzheimer’s Society, has found it has no real impact on symptoms.

A total of 176 adults with mild to moderate dementia took part in the six month study. Half were given a 120 milligram daily dose and the others a placebo.

The result was that the herb, made from the leaves of a tree, did not bring any significant improvement to their quality of life, says a report published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.