HealthyReviews
The Top-Rated Brain Enhancement Supplements of 2024
How We Found the Best Supplements For Joint Memory and Mood
In the world of natural health supplements, the latest craze has had to do with the science of brain enhancement. Tons of pills are now being marketed that promise to improve memory, heighten focus, and improve your mood1.
Not everyone is blessed with quick thinking, high energy, and amazing concentration. Whether in the classroom, the office, or just in everyday life, many people find it difficult to get past the “fog” that can sometimes happen. Sometimes it has to do with an individual’s brain chemistry, and sometimes it’s just a situational thing, such as not getting enough sleep, but whatever the reason, lots of customers are looking for pills that can help them sharpen or enhance their mental abilities.
The market is now so big that lots of pills, natural and otherwise, have been produced to meet the demand. The problem is that not all of these pills work, either due to faulty formulas or untested, ineffective ingredients. For the expert the signs are obvious, but consumers and laymen can have a harder time parsing which pills work and which ones don’t. Click here to see our top rated brain enhancement products of 2024.
That’s the reason we came up with this handy e-guide: to help everyone learn the truth about nootropics. We’ve looked up all the latest information and compiled the evidence to present the ultimate walkthrough for people who are interested in the topic of “brain-boosters.”
What follows is our guide to help people understand the basics of brain enhancement, as well as information about how to make the best decisions when it comes to buying. We’ve ended it all with our Top 3 Favorite Brain Enhancement Supplements.
To start, let’s look at exactly what brain enhancement supplements are and how they can help you.
Brain Enhancement: What’s the Deal?
Natural brain enhancement supplements, or nootropics, are typically pills containing various natural plant extracts, aminos, and other ingredients which are supposed to improve mental and cognitive function.
Understanding Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline is a natural process by which our mental functions begin to unravel and weaken over time. According to the CDC, 11.1% of American adults, or 1 in 9, have some form of subjective cognitive decline2. In addition, less than half of people over 45 years old reported their problems to a health care pro3. By subjective cognitive decline, experts are talking about anything from forgetfulness, inability to focus, inability to make decisions or plan, and having the symptoms of depression4.
As you can see, the symptoms are wide-ranging and can affect every part of your life.
There are many reasons posited for exactly what causes this cognitive decline in people. Various causes attributed to it have been smoking, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor nutrition5. Other causes may include a low amount of mental stimulation, something which is well-known in the medical world to improve mental function and prevent future mental decline.
Cognitive decline is also thought to be a precursor to Alzheimer’s Disease, meaning the earlier one can start to deal with cognitive decline, the better chances of avoiding AD6.
There are plenty of methods that have been developed to try and combat cognitive decline, both natural and pharmaceutical. On the more holistic side of things, exercise, good diet, and frequent mental stimulation are all recommended as ways to keep your brain in the best shape as you get older. But there are younger people too who, even if they don’t have medically-diagnosed cognitive decline, feel that they want to improve their mental abilities. The desire from both older and younger folks to have the best mental function possible has led to the creation of nootropics, or brain enhancement supplements. Click here to see our top rated brain enhancement products of 2024.
Testo Hormone Level
A Great Brain Enhancement Supplement Helps To:
Improve Memory7
Sharpen Focus8
Improve Decision-Making9
Promote Better Moods10
Boost Recall Speed11
Top 3 Criteria For The Right Brain Enhancement Supplement
We’ve spent lots of time researching all the latest ingredients in the natural health world, special attention on the ingredients people say worked best. All the research we conducted led to us whittling down a list of best ingredients until we had the top 4. These are ingredients you MUST have in a great brain enhancement product. While the supplement can also contain other ingredients, it must contain the following 4 at MINIMUM:
Panax Ginseng
Also called Red Ginseng or Asian Ginseng, this is a plant used since ancient times in traditional Asian folk medicines for a variety of different issues. Modern science has found it to have benefits on cognition. How? Studies suggest that it works as an adaptogen, a compound which can help the body to deal with stressors more effectively12.
Vitamin B12
This crucial vitamin is necessary to have in a balanced diet, and is well-known for its function in facilitating cell metabolism. However, it’s also known that a deficiency in vitamin B12 correlates with higher rates of mental decline, dementia, and that therapy that included a vitamin B12 supplement was able to reverse some symptoms in people with dementia13.
L-Tyrosine
This is an amino acid that plays an important role in mental function, specifically as the precursor to important neurochemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. Studies have shown that supplementation with l-tyrosine led to improved cognitive function in short-term, stressful situations14.
Phosphatidylserine
This compound makes up part of your brain cells and helps facilitate the transmission of messages between them. Taking it in a supplement is supposed to improve not only short-term recall, but overall memory, concentration, and even mood, suggesting that it’s one of the most important neurocognitive ingredients ever15. Click here to see our top rated brain enhancement products of 2024.
4 Things To AVOID
When Buying A Brain Enhancement Supplement
1. Too Few Ingredients
Lots of supplements meant to help with cognitive function will choose one well-known ingredient and make it the only active ingredient. While the ingredient itself may be decent enough, you won’t be getting a lot of value. Pick supplements that come with several good ingredients that improve mental function.
2. Not Backed Up By Research
A building is only as good as its materials, so if a material is bad, why would the building be any good? Only choose supplements that contain ingredients proven by clinical research, otherwise you could end up getting shafted.
3. Weak Return Policy
Only buy products that come with a return policy of 30 days or more. That way you know the company trusts the product enough to let it go with the possibility of it being returned – and if it’s good, it won’t be.
4. Blindly trusting Amazon Reviews
One major study shows that there were as many as 1.8 million unverified 5-star Amazon reviews in March 201916. That’s something to worry about. As e-commerce comes to rely more and more on starred reviews, fake ones mean that people could get great-looking products that don’t actually work.
2024’s Top 3 Brain Enhancement Supplements
Our review involved over a HUNDRED different brain supplements, and we ran each one through a thorough review process. To select the Top 3 Brain Enhancement Supplements of 2024, we looked for the right balance of effectiveness, scientific research, product safety, value, customer service, and customer reviews.
- Provides support for superior brain function, memory, energy, and focus, and has extremely low risk of side effects
- All-natural, powerful ingredients making up a revolutionary formula
- Doctor recommended*
- All ingredients tested for their effectiveness in clinical trials
- Works in as little as a few days
- Has researched ingredients, made in a GMP and FDA-approved facility*
- No synthetic ingredients or fillers
- No same-day or overnight shipping option
- Only available for purchase online
Over 1,278 consumers voted Brainmentin as the #1 brain supplement*. It contains an amazing formula that can improve memory and reduce brain fog. It may also help improve your mental energy and alertness, and promote an elevated mood throughout the day.
We wholeheartedly believe in this brand. Brainmentin is made from 100% natural ingredients and contains zero fillers or artificial ingredients. The ingredients have all undergone scientific testing, and the product itself comes with a Risk-Free Money-Back Guarantee. See the Brainmentin Official Site »
PROS
- Radically improves focus and concentration
- Greatly enhances memory and recall
- Boosts circulation in the brain
- Slows the progress of age-related cognitive decline
- All-natural, powerful ingredients making up a revolutionary formula
- Doctor recommended*
- All ingredients tested for their effectiveness in clinical trials
- Works in as little as a few days
- Has researched ingredients, Made in GMP and FDA approved facility*
- No synthetic ingredients or fillers
- Well tolerated formula for improved alertness with no jittery feeling
- Money-back guarantee
- Has extremely low risk of side effects
CONS
- No same-day or overnight shipping option
- Only available for purchase online
It’s also made in the USA. The pills are made in a cGMP-inspected facility that passes FDA standards for ingredient purity and manufacturing quality.
We also give their customer service an “A”, which is better than 93% of companies out there. The downside to this product is that it’s sometimes out of stock. So, if you do purchase, be sure to buy more since they can’t keep it on their shelves.
* Disclaimer: Results are individual and may vary
Think Tank Elite
- Has ashwagandha and L-Tyrosine
- All-natural ingredients in formula
- Contains piperine for added absorption into the body
- Comes with free shipping
- Priced higher than some competition
- Low number of customer reviews
Our runner-up is Think Tank Elite, a brain health supplement that uses a potent mix of natural ingredients to support your mental function and strengthen your memory. It also contains amino acids and vitamins which are supposed to help give you an additional mental edge. It’s available from Amazon and comes with a full month of servings per bottle. They’ve done everything to ensure their product is bioavailable and works fast in your body.
PROS
- Has ashwagandha and L-Tyrosine
- All-natural ingredients in formula
- Contains piperine for added absorption into the body
- Comes with free shipping
CONS
- Priced higher than some competition
- Low number of customer reviews
A drawback is the advertised price (nearly $70) which is more than twice what some other products cost. However, it might be worth it for some people, depending on what they’re looking for.
RediMind
- Contains major ingredients bacopa monnieri and huperzine
- Formula consists largely of all-natural ingredients
- Each bottle lasts a full month
- Non-GMO
- Gluten Free
- Large number of good customer ratings
- Limited ingredient diversity
- Company has bad review grade on Fakespot
Next on our list is RediMind. This supplement also claims to help improve memory and enhance your cognitive function, and unlike many other brain pills, they back it up with an impressive study put on by Princeton Consumer Research. It contains a decent mix of ingredients including bacopa monnieri, ginkgo biloba, and huperzine. It’s easily purchased online and comes at an attractive price as well.
PROS
- Contains major ingredients bacopa monnieri and huperzine
- Formula consists largely of all-natural ingredients
- Each bottle lasts a full month
- Non-GMO
- Gluten Free
- Large number of good customer ratings
CONS
- Limited ingredient diversity
- Company has bad review grade on Fakespot
While the price is nice and the product is made to decent specifications, the company has a “D” on Fakespot, implying there are large numbers of untrustworthy reviews of their products.
Citations
1 – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326379#over-the-counter
2 – https://www.cdc.gov/aging/data/subjective-cognitive-decline-brief.html
3 – www.rimed.org › 2017/03 › 2017-03-35-health-jackson.pdf
4 – https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Health-Conditions/Subjective-Cognitive-Impairment-SCI.aspx
5 – https://www.verywellhealth.com/subjective-cognitive-impairment-and-memory-loss-4151922
6 – https://www.verywellhealth.com/subjective-cognitive-impairment-and-memory-loss-4151922
7 – https://selfhacked.com/blog/nootropics-top-ways-improve-protect-memory/
8 – https://time.com/5509993/nootropics-smart-drugs-brain/
9 – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experience-engineering/202001/supercharge-your-brain-principles-safe-nootropic-use
10 – https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/experience-engineering/202001/5-science-backed-nootropics-improving-mood
11 – https://www.healthycell.com/blog/best-nootropic-supplements-for-focus-recall
12 – https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_panax_ginseng_ginseng_root/drugs-condition.htm
13 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22221769/
14 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26424423/
15 – https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/phosphatidylserine-uses-and-risks#1
16 – https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawoollacott/2019/04/16/amazons-fake-review-problem-is-getting-worse/#3c133014195f