Supplements for Memory Enhancement

Supplements for Memory Enhancement

October 21, 2020

Written by Lori Jo Vest

Fact checked by The Brain Blog Team

Supplements for Memory Enhancement

The brain is an incredibly complex organ, with many facets that we don’t yet understand - “unsolved mysteries,” as some scientists say. So if you’re looking for a supplement for memory enhancement, how do you know which option is best for you?   

 “We humans have approximately 86 billion neurons in our brains, woven together by an estimated 100 trillion connections, or synapses. It’s a daunting task to understand the details of how those cells work, let alone how they come together to make up our sensory systems, our behavior, our consciousness.” - The Allen Institute for Brain Science.

 Fortunately, for the purposes of measuring the effects of brain health supplementation, we can rely on peer-reviewed scientific research using double-blind placebo-controlled studies.

Do Supplements for Memory Really Help?

Whether you’re a student studying new information, an executive moving up in your career, or a senior looking forward to a long and healthy retirement, supplements for memory are probably on your radar. Nootropics are a hot health supplement trend and many people are taking them to support their memory and overall brain function. Research has also shown that certain brain health supplements, like Memory Health, are scientifically proven memory enhancers. However…   

 First things first, you need to know that a supplement for memory simply cannot compensate for an unhealthy lifestyle. The simple habits shown below will help support your overall health and your brain’s health and thereby, help support your memory.    

  • Minimize alcohol consumption
  •  Drink 64 oz. of water daily
  • Fill your plate with leafy green and other colorful vegetables
  • Minimize the use of saturated fat in your diet
  • Exercise a minimum of 150 minutes a week
  • Practice healthy sleep - a minimum of 7 to 9 hours a night

Does Green Tea Work as a Supplement for Memory? 

Green tea has several health benefits, including short-term boosts to both memory and cognitive functioning. According to Insider Health, green tea “contains an amino acid called L-theanine, which has been found to help reduce stress and boost your mood. Research shows that the combination of caffeine and L-theanine improves brain function by strengthening working memory and attention, and reducing anxiety.” If you have a short-term memory need - studying for a test or prepping for a presentation tomorrow? - the caffeine in green tea may be helpful to your efforts.

Carotenoids as Long Term Supplements for Memory

Lutein is a pigment called a carotenoid, found in leafy greens like spinach, kale and broccoli, and in colorful red, yellow and orange peppers. Lutein neutralizes dangerous free radicals, reduces oxidative stress, and lowers inflammation in the brain.  It provides both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits and is linked to improvements in brain health, cognitive function, memory and mood.  Studies have shown that adding two other carotenoids — Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin — to Lutein provides even more memory-enhancing effects when all three are taken together daily.  In fact, research has demonstrated that individuals with high concentrations of carotenoids in their brain demonstrate significantly better cognitive functioning. 

 In fact, in just one study, 59 healthy people between the ages of 18 and 25 took a placebo or a supplement containing lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin every day. Doctors measured changes in levels of carotenoids in the macula of the eye, gave participants psychological stress and anxiety tests, and measured levels of cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone released by the adrenal glands. According to the Journal of Dietary Supplements, “After six and 12 months, while the placebo group had not improved, both low and high-dose carotenoid groups had less psychological stress, better emotional and physical health, and lower cortisol levels.”

Should You Take a Supplement for Memory? 

While lifestyle and a healthy diet would seem to be the best way to stave off brain health issues like memory loss, cognitive functioning problems and even dementia, the most powerful nutrients for memory - Lutein with  Zeaxanthin, and Meso-Zeaxanthin - aren’t available through diet alone. A person simply cannot consume them in large enough quantities by ingesting food, even if someone were to eat 20 bowls of spinach a day. Experts say that supplementing these targeted nutrients is necessary to support brain health and function, particularly among the aging population.

 Memory Health® uses an all-natural, patented formula of Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Meso-Zeaxanthin, combined with Omega-3s (DHA and EPA) and Natural Vitamin E. It’s the only brain supplement currently on the market to receive a patent for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.

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