If you’ve been experiencing more frequent brain fog, memory lapses, and “senior moments” recently, the underlying cause may be more than just a hectic schedule or a few nights of poor sleep. It’s possible that age-related cognitive deterioration is to blame.
A steady reduction in cognitive ability is a natural result of aging, and new research indicates that this begins in the early to mid-40s. Acetylcholine, which is necessary for the creation of synaptic connections, is used by the brain to store and retrieve new information. Unfortunately, as we get older, the production of this important neurotransmitter drops, decreasing the brain’s ability to form new short-term memories.
This is why, while you may be able to recall people or events from decades past, remembering where you parked your car or where you left your keys might be difficult.
Nobody can stop the passage of time. However, a healthy lifestyle combined with a well-rounded cognitive health supplement can help keep your mind sharp and help you regain the focus, concentration, and mental clarity you had years ago.
How Can You Tell the Difference Between a Good and a Bad Memory Supplement?
According to recent studies, roughly 40% of adults will experience age-related memory lapses at some point in their lives, particularly those over the age of 65. Furthermore, our reliance on technological gadgets rather than our brains to remember names, dates, and numbers is exacerbating the problem. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that public demand for cognitive improvement goods is increasing significantly.
Nevertheless, not all supplements are made equal. Many companies have been enticed by the rapidly rising market for brain-boosting supplements to develop worthless solutions containing questionable substances with little or no proof of performance. That’s why our team decided to go over all of today’s most popular mind and memory formulae and assess their safety and effectiveness. We’ll show you what to look for, what to avoid, and which items we believe are the finest.
During our research, we discovered a number of companies making inflated claims about the cognitive benefits of their goods, not all of which are realistic. What kind of outcomes can you reasonably anticipate from a brain supplement?
When Can You Expect to See Results?
Most cognitive health products’ components can deliver obvious changes within 30 days. However, restoring adequate acetylcholine production and maximizing your brain’s ability to construct new neuronal pathways may take some time.
According to research, 3 months of daily use considerably increases the likelihood of long-term improvement. Here is a reasonable timetable to anticipate:
- Month 1: You may notice that you are less forgetful and more attentive as you have fewer “senior moments.”
- Month 2: Your short-term memory may feel noticeably sharper, with more capacity and faster recall.
- Month 3: Reached peak cognitive potential. You may see long-term improvements in memory retention, increased concentration and alertness, and renewed mental confidence.
Focus on consistency for the best results. Including an effective memory supplement in your daily routine for at least three months encourages exponential improvement since each dose builds on the previous dose’s effects.
The 5 Essential Memory Supplement Ingredients
Alpha GPC
Alpha GPC occurs naturally in the body as a precursor to acetylcholine, one of the major neurotransmitters in the neuronal network of the brain. As a supplement, this molecule rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier and promotes acetylcholine production. Furthermore, alpha GPC promotes the formation of cell membranes in the cerebral cortex, or “gray matter,” which aids with mental thinking.
Huperzine A
Huperzine A has been demonstrated to boost acetylcholine bioavailability by blocking the enzyme that degrades it, acetylcholinesterase. This creates an excellent environment for new brain connections to form and memory retention to improve. While huperzine A is derived from huperzia serrata, it is not the same substance. Look for supplements that contain huperzine A specifically.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
This mushroom has been used for thousands of years by Buddhist monks to strengthen concentration during meditation. It improves cognition by increasing the activity of choline acetyltransferase, which is responsible for the production of acetylcholine in the body.
This brain-boosting mushroom also promotes the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that is essential for the maintenance and regeneration of neurons.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is an herb that is extensively used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for its ability to improve memory and focus.
According to research, the bacoside chemicals in this potent plant pass the blood-brain barrier and, like huperzine A, assist in enhancing acetylcholine levels by preventing its breakdown by acetylcholinesterase. In this approach, bacopa monnieri aids in the formation of new brain pathways.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo biloba, one of the world’s oldest tree species, has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years for its neuroprotective properties. Its root bark and leaves are high in ginkgolide chemicals, which induce increased acetylcholine concentrations in critical brain regions responsible for decision-making and short-term memory recall. They also help with cerebral blood circulation.
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2023’s Top 5 Cognitive Enhancers
Below, we break down our rankings and provide extensive assessments of the five greatest cognitive health products we researched, starting with our top pick.
RediMind from Nutreance *
PROS
- Independent third-party clinical testing against placebo
- Participants in the study scored 51% higher* on a standardized cognitive test after 30 days of daily use.
- Contains all five essential components
- There are no fillers or artificial additions.
- Gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO
- Made in the United States
CONS
- Available online but not in retail outlets at the moment
TO SUMMARIZE
We ranked RediMind by Nutreance first since it is the only cognitive supplement that passes all of our stringent requirements.
RediMind was investigated for safety and efficacy in a placebo-controlled clinical trial done by Princeton Consumer Research over the course of 30 days. At three different stages of the trial, participants’ performance on a standardized short-term memory test was tested. The researchers discovered that those who used RediMind for 30 days scored 51% higher than their baseline, which was significantly higher than the placebo group. (Click here for the complete study results).
RediMind contains alpha GPC, huperzine A, lion’s mane mushroom, bacopa monnieri, and ginkgo biloba, all of which we feel are vital for effective memory support. It’s also made in a GMP-certified lab in New York.
It’s available on Amazon.com, but we got far better deals on Nutreance’s website. Other mental health items available from the company include a stress reduction supplement and a natural sleep aid.
RediMind is our overall top pick for cognitive development in 2023.
MemorAll by Xymogen *
PROS
- Contains three of the five essential elements
- There are no artificial additives.
- Made in the USA
- vegan
- non-GMO
- gluten-free
CONS
- There has been no clinical research.
- There is no alpha GPC or lion’s mane mushroom in this product.
- It contains certain substances with questionable efficacy.
TO SUMMARIZE
MemorAll by Xymogen delivers powerful cognitive support and contains three of the major ingredients that we look for in a great brain supplement: huperzine A, bacopa monnieri, and ginkgo biloba.
Another element in the formula, acetyl L-carnitine, has been found to stimulate the generation of acetylcholine. It is, however, easily available from a well-balanced diet, and it must be combined with alpha GPC for optimum absorption. Unfortunately, the supplement does not contain alpha GPC or lion’s mane mushroom, both of which are required for optimal acetylcholine levels and synaptic connection building.
Phosphatidylserine, a naturally occurring molecule with neuroprotective properties, is also present in the product. The most promising clinical trials, however, used phosphatidylserine obtained from bovine brain tissue, whereas the component in this vegan product is derived from sunflower oil.
Most crucially, it has not been tested for safety and efficacy in a placebo-controlled scientific trial, which could explain the inclusion of some compounds with less assured efficacy.
Membrin by Ortho Molecular Products *
PROS
- Contains two of the five essential elements
- There are no fillers or artificial additions.
- Gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO
- Made in the United States
CONS
- There has been no clinical research.
- There is no alpha GPC, lion’s mane mushroom, or bacopa monnieri in this product.
- Concentrates on cerebral blood flow rather than acetylcholine synthesis.
TO SUMMARIZE
Membrin by Ortho Molecular Products contains two key brain-boosting substances, huperzine A (also known as huperzine alkaloids) and ginkgo biloba, as well as another cognitive-enhancing chemical clinically demonstrated to improve cerebral circulation.
The formula is free of fillers and additives and is manufactured in the United States.
The membrane does not contain alpha GPC, lion’s mane mushroom, or bacopa monnieri, all of which are important for promoting adequate acetylcholine synthesis for improved focus, recall, and neuroplasticity. This appears to be by design, as Ortho Molecular Products claims the medicine improves blood flow in the brain. While this method of cognitive enhancement has advantages, it does not address the age-related loss in acetylcholine production and its impact on memory.
They have not conducted a clinical study to evaluate the product’s efficacy. Finally, this supplement is not recommended for women of childbearing age because it may impair fertility.
CogniAid by Design’s for Health *
PROS
- It contains two of the five essential elements.
- There are no artificial additives.
- Made in the USA,
- vegan
- non-GMO
- gluten-free
CONS
- There has been no clinical research.
- There is no alpha GPC, lion’s mane mushroom, or ginkgo biloba in this product.
- Some substances have minimal effectiveness evidence.
TO SUMMARIZE
CogniAid by Designs for Health contains huperzine A and bacopa monnieri, two of the most important components for optimal cognitive enhancement, as well as three more chemicals for mind and memory support.
Memophenol, a proprietary extract of grape and wild blueberry, and NooGandha, a trademarked ashwagandha derivative, are heavily used in the mix. Both of these substances have been individually assessed for safety and efficacy in clinical investigations. However, the outcomes were varied.
One research of college students found that Memophenol improved cognitive function by 36%; however, a bigger study of senior adults found no meaningful effect on total cognitive test scores. Meanwhile, the two NooGandha studies available showed improvement in short-term memory, although the statistical increases were minor.
The product does not contain alpha GPC, lion’s mane mushroom, or ginkgo biloba, all of which support acetylcholine levels and improve speedier decision-making and memory retention. More significantly, the product has not been subjected to an impartial, third-party clinical trial.
Ceriva by Metagenics *
PROS
- Contains huperzine A.
- There are no fillers or artificial additions.
- Non-GMO
- gluten-free
- Made in the United States
CONS
- There has been no clinical research.
- Four of the five essential elements are missing.
- Not a vegan.
TO SUMMARIZE
Ceriva by Metagenics contains huperzine A, one of the most potent natural substances for increasing acetylcholine and sharpening your intellect. This substance is combined with a polypeptide complex generated from colostrum, which has been demonstrated in multiple trials to have neuroprotective effects in persons with age-related memory impairments. However, no agreement has been achieved on the mechanism of action underlying these cognitive improvements.
While the product’s stated goal is to enhance the body’s natural acetylcholine modulation, the composition lacks four of our five essential elements for effective acetylcholine generation. While the colostrum-derived polypeptide complex shows promise, and huperzine A alone can aid in improving short-term memory, a more robust supporting cast would be ideal. A clinical trial would help to validate the formula’s efficacy.
Finally, if you are lactose intolerant or sensitive to dairy, be aware that the polypeptide complex in this supplement is sourced from milk.
To Conclude
For those of you who are not too crazy about taking supplements, click here to read about what foods you can eat to increase your brain power.