I hear this from senior friends a lot: “If you find a magic pill that will boost brain health, sharpen memory, and spur afternoon focus and energy, please let me know.” For myself, I’ve got an aging brain that is slowing down. Therefore I’ve been trying a few supplements but I find it hard to believe the online hype you see on websites.
I am hopeful that with all the “Neuro” companies racing to find brain products, they will discover some healthy solutions. But I’m worried that a lot of the supplements being hyped online is nothing more than hype.
In the meantime, I find afternoons the most challenging; that’s when I feel brain fog and lack of focus and concentration. I don’t suppose I’m alone among seniors who are fed up with sluggish brain health.
The Race for Nootropic Supplements for Brain Health
Nootropics, or “smart drugs,” are a class of substances that can boost brain performance. They are sometimes called cognition enhancers or memory-enhancing substances. They do not treat diseases but may have some effects on thinking, memory, or other mental functions.
I’m reminded of the 2011 film, Limitless, where Bradley Cooper takes a magic pill that gives him a photographic memory and analytical powers that catapults him to success. In the real world, scientists are developing drugs and supplements to help ordinary people and especially seniors with brain and memory problems.
Natural nootropics are comprised of natural or synthetic vitamins, amino acids, minerals, fatty acids, antioxidants, and other herbal ingredients combined in a supplement to improve cognitive performance. I’ve looked at some of the popular brands being touted online. Many are nothing more than vitamins with a few herbs like Gingko Biloba thrown in. (And that herbal substance has had mixed results in studies.)
The Quest for Profits from Brain Supplements
Some of the websites for popular brands are accompanied by slick marketing copy, videos, and outrageous claims. And of course, high price tags that offer huge discounts when you buy 5 or 6 bottles at a time. Buyer beware. Think about it: if these brain supplements could do all they promise, we would probably have a cure for dementia and all of its more serious forms. But we don’t have a product that can successfully cure or relieve symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.
Wish List for Brain Health
Still, it’s worth the effort to try to sustain brain health in natural ways with diet, exercise, and supplements. Here’s my wish list for a magic brain pill or nootropic. A good nootropic helps to:
- Improve Memory
- Promote Focus and Alertness
- Enhance Learning
- Support Analytical Thinking
- Boost Mental Energy
- Enhance Creativity
- Reduce Stress
3 Key Ingredients of Effective Nootropics
What would a good supplement include? According to Review Scout, in an article titled “Top 5 Nootropic Supplements for 2020,” there are three ingredients that provide benefits to aging brains. Of course, it all depends on dosage and bio-availability. Not everything that we ingest gets utilized in the brain.
- Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid nutrient, found in the cerebral cortex, which covers and protects brain cells and helps carry messages between them. The normal aging process causes brain cell membranes to become rigid, impairing brain cell communication, which results in memory recall issues. Studies show that supplementing with phosphatidylserine can improve memory function, especially delayed recall, in both middle-aged and older adults. It works by helping rejuvenate brain cell membranes and supporting the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for memory.
2. Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri is an herb used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. I wrote about it here last week. Numerous clinical studies found that Bacopa monnieri enhances memory retention, improves spatial learning, the ability to take in new information about one’s environment, and reduces stress. Scientists found that Bacopa monnieri increases the length and branching of nerve cells, also known as dendrites, in the brain, which is linked to learning and memory. The main active compounds in Bacopa monnieri are bacosides, which also fight oxidative stress, a cause of disease and cognitive decline, by acting as a free radical scavenger.
- Huperzine A
This is an extract of the Huperzia serrata plant, which has been shown in studies to improve memory and learning from young students to seniors. Recent research shows that it improves memory and slows cognitive decline by increasing levels of acetylcholine, the compound that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It’s also been shown to help prevent neuronal cell death. Twenty randomized clinical trials involving 1823 participants indicated that it has a beneficial effect on memory, cognitive function, and quality of life.
Brain Health or Brain Hype?
I don’t agree with everything this article says and I recognize this “review article” as a marketing campaign. This is the problem in researching brain health supplements online. Much of the articles and review sites are biased toward particular products. These three ingredients are well known as beneficial to the brain, but is the reviewer being paid to promote the product he rates as number one which just happens to have these three ingredients?
Personally, I don’t want a lot of vitamins in my brain supplement because I already take a daily vitamin pill. While phosphatidylserine is a key ingredient for brain health, it can upset digestion and interfere with blood-thinning medications that so many seniors take. Unless you check with a health professional, you could end up with problems.
Therefore, I will continue to search and report on what I’m finding out about brain health supplements.
Recent Comments