Top Picks — Cognitive

🧠 Best Cognitive Supplements

Top cognitive supplements ranked by clinical evidence — for memory, focus, mental clarity, and brain health. Bacopa, Lion's Mane, Citicoline, and more.

203 ingredients reviewed Ranked by clinical evidence
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Top 5 — Ranked by Evidence

📈 Fastest Growing Cognitive Ingredients

Branded ingredients seeing rapid growth in formulator adoption and clinical research in 2024–2026.

🔬 Future Cognitive Ingredients to Watch

Lower current evidence but active research underway — these may become top picks within 2–3 years.

All Cognitive Ingredients (203)

Very Strong
Lutemax® 2020 (Lutein + Both Zeaxanthins — OmniActive)
Cognitive Function — BDNF and Multi-Domain Improvements
Adults: 10mg lutein+2mg zeaxanthin (low) or 20mg+4mg (high) daily. Children: 10mg+2mg
Very Strong
Creatine Monohydrate
Neuroprotective effects in aging
Standard daily: 3-5 g/day (no loading needed). Optional loading: 20 g/day × 5-7 days,
Very Strong
Caffeine
Enhances Alertness and Focus
100–400 mg/day; performance: 3–6 mg/kg body weight 60 minutes pre-exercise; upper safe
Very Strong
Vitamin B12
Mental Health and Cognitive Function
2.4 mcg/day (RDA); deficiency treatment: 1,000–2,000 mcg/day oral (sublingual
Very Strong
Longvida® Optimized Curcumin (Verdure Sciences)
Cognitive Function (400 mg/day)
400 mg/day Longvida (cognitive applications); 800 mg/day (joint health, exercise
Strong
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)
Cognitive aging and mild cognitive impairment
COGNITIVE/AGING: 1500-3000 mg/day divided. DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: 1000 mg × 3/day = 3000
Strong
Bacopa Monnieri
Memory consolidation — strongest evidence
300–450 mg/day of 55% bacoside-standardized extract; effects require 8–12 weeks of
Strong
Magtein® (Magnesium L-Threonate)
Brain magnesium elevation — only form crossing the blood-brain barrier
2g/day Magtein® (145 mg elemental magnesium); taken as 1g morning + 1g evening; 6-week
Strong
Nutricog® (Haritaki + Boswellia Cognitive Performance Complex — PLT Health)
Multi-domain cognitive improvement
Per Nutricog clinical trial protocol — daily dosing for 120 days. Effects on memory
Very Strong
Creapure® (Pharmaceutical-Grade Creatine Monohydrate)
Cognitive support under stress, sleep loss, or aging
Loading: 0.3 g/kg/day for 5–7 days (typically 20 g/day split in 4 doses). Maintenance:
Very Strong
Pycnogenol® (French Maritime Pine Bark)
Attention & focus support
50–200 mg/day; cardiovascular: 100–200 mg/day; cognitive: 100 mg/day; athletic
Very Strong
CurQfen® (Curcumin-Fenugreek FenuMat — Akay Bioactives)
Curcumin with enhanced brain delivery
400-500 mg/day CurQfen (research-validated; some applications use higher)
Very Strong
Fish Oil (EPA + DHA)
Brain & nervous system support (DHA)
General: 1 g/day EPA+DHA. Hypertriglyceridemia: 3-4 g/day. REDUCE-IT regimen: 4 g/day
Very Strong
FloraGLO® Lutein (Kemin)
Cognitive function in older adults
AREDS2 standard: 10 mg lutein + 2 mg zeaxanthin/day. Cognitive: 12 mg/day.
Very Strong
Zinc
Cognitive Function
8–11 mg/day (RDA); therapeutic: 25–40 mg/day elemental zinc; upper limit 40 mg/day;
Strong
Alpha-GPC
Cognitive function in age-related decline
AD/MCI: 400 mg × 3/day = 1200 mg/day. COGNITIVE: 300-600 mg/day. ATHLETIC: 250-600 mg
Strong
Hericium erinaceus (Mycelium vs Fruiting Body — Strain Specifics)
Mild Cognitive Impairment 16-week trial
Fruiting body powder: 3 g/day × 16 weeks (the mild cognitive impairment trial
Strong
Phosphatidylserine
Age-related memory complaints — modest benefit
Cognitive (elderly): 100-300 mg/day. Athletic (cortisol): 600-800 mg/day × 10-15 days.
Strong
Choline Bitartrate
Supports Acetylcholine Synthesis
AI: 425-550 mg/day adults; 450 mg pregnancy, 550 mg lactation. Bitartrate supplements
Strong
Citicoline
Memory in age-associated memory impairment
250–500 mg/day (as Cognizin®); cognitive: 500 mg/day; stroke recovery studies use
Strong
DailyZz™ (Spearmint + Green Tea Sleep Nootropic — Kemin)
60% working memory improvement
485 mg DailyZz once daily — taken 30 minutes before bedtime per the published clinical
Moderate
Cerebrolysin (FPF-1070)
Vascular dementia — strongest indication
VASCULAR DEMENTIA: 20 mL IV/day × two 4-wk courses. STROKE (CARS-1/2): 30 mL/day IV ×
Moderate
Polygala (Yuan Zhi)
Memory enhancement in healthy adults (BT-11 RCT)
BT-11 STANDARDIZED EXTRACT (Korean RCTs): 200-300 mg 3×/day = 600-900 mg/day × 4-12
Strong
Bacopin® (Bacopa monnieri Extract — Sabinsa)
Memory and learning (Bacopa class evidence)
100-300 mg/day Bacopin standardized extract, typically split into 1-2 daily doses with
Strong
enXtra® (Standardized Alpinia galanga Extract — OmniActive)
Sustained 5-hour alertness
300 mg/day (single serving) is the standard dose used across all published trials. Can
Strong
GeniusPure® (High-Purity Alpha-GPC)
Memory, learning, and cognitive enhancement
300–600 mg/day alpha-GPC (as standard 50% — adjust for GeniusPure® 70% or 90%
Strong
L-Theanine
Improves Focus and Attention
100–400 mg/day; relaxation: 200 mg; caffeine synergy: 100–200 mg with caffeine; sleep:
Strong
Neumentix® (Spearmint Extract — Kemin)
Working memory in older adults
Standard cognitive protocol: 900 mg/day Neumentix® (typically 600 mg morning + 300 mg
Strong
Neuravena® (Wild Green Oat Extract — Frutarom)
Cognitive Function and Attention
800-1,600 mg/day Neuravena (research-validated)
Strong
Pine Bark Extract
Cognitive function support
Standard dose: 100-300 mg/day standardized pine bark extract (≥85% proanthocyanidins).
Strong
Zynamite® S (Non-Stim Mental Energy — Water Soluble)
Non-stimulant cognitive performance for beverages
100–150 mg Zynamite® S (single dose, acute cognitive benefits within 30 minutes); 150
Moderate
Huperzine A
Alzheimer's Disease Cognitive Improvement
50-200 mcg twice daily (100-400 mcg/day total); China research uses up to 400 mcg/day
Strong
Algal Oil DHA (Vegan Omega-3)
Cognitive support in older adults
General health: 200-500 mg DHA/day. Pregnancy: 200-300 mg DHA/day minimum (matches
Strong
AlphaSize® (Alpha-GPC — Chemi Nutra)
Memory and cognition
300 to 600 mg per day for cognition; about 600 mg pre-exercise in sports studies.
Strong
Ashwagandha
Cognitive Function
KSM-66® root extract: 300-600 mg/day (most stress/sleep trials). Shoden®: 120-240
Strong
BaCognize® (Standardized Bacopa monnieri — Verdure Sciences)
Cognitive function in healthy adults (Kumar 2016)
300 mg/day BaCognize, typically 150 mg twice daily (Kumar 2016 dosing schedule). Some
Strong
BacoMind® (Bacopa monnieri Extract — Natural Remedies)
Memory and learning
About 300 mg per day, typically taken for 8 to 12 weeks for cognitive effects.
Strong
Cereboost™ (American Ginseng for Cognition — Givaudan)
Cognitive Performance
200 mg/day Cereboost (research-validated)
Strong
Choline
Fetal brain development and pregnancy
425 mg/day (women AI); 550 mg/day (men AI); 930 mg/day (pregnant); up to 3,500 mg/day
Strong
Cognizin® (Citicoline — Kyowa Hakko)
Attention and focus
250 to 500 mg per day.
Strong
EPAX® (Concentrated Omega-3 Fish Oil)
Brain and mood
A serving typically providing several hundred milligrams to over a gram of combined E
Strong
Ginkgoselect® Phytosome (Ginkgo Phytosome — Indena)
Cognitive Function and Working Memory
120-240 mg/day Ginkgoselect Phytosome
Strong
goCOCOA® (Cocoa Flavanol Extract)
Cognitive function and memory
200–400 mg/day cocoa flavanols (epicatechin equivalent); cardiovascular/cognitive:
Strong
KSM-66®
Memory and Focus
300–600 mg/day KSM-66® root extract (5% withanolides); 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg
Strong
Methylcobalamin (Active B12)
Neurological Function
500-2,000 µg/day sublingual or oral for general supplementation; 1,000-2,500 µg/day
Strong
Nitrosigine® (Arginine Silicate)
Cognitive performance and focus
1,500 mg/day; most studies use 1,500 mg taken 30–60 minutes pre-exercise
Strong
nooLVL® (Inositol-Enhanced Arginine for Gaming & Cognition)
Gaming performance — accuracy and reaction time
1,600 mg/day nooLVL® (clinically tested dose); cognitive benefits within 15 minutes;
Strong
Rhodiola Rosea
Cognitive performance
200–600 mg/day standardized extract; taken before meals
Strong
Riboflavin
Cofactor for brain energy metabolism (B2)
1.1–1.3 mg/day (RDA); migraine prevention: 400 mg/day (clinical studies); metabolic
Strong
SerinAid® (Phosphatidylserine — Chemi Nutra)
Memory and cognition
100 to 300 mg per day; 300 mg/day is common in cognition studies.
Strong
Suntheanine®
Alpha brainwave induction
50–200 mg/day; 100–200 mg for relaxation/focus; 50 mg for caffeine stacking
Strong
BioPure DHA® (Omega-3 DHA)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
Dry N-3® (Powdered Omega-3)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
DurOmega® (Stabilized Omega-3)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
EFADuo® (Omega-3 and Omega-6 Complex)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
Elantria® Algal DHA (Vegan Omega-3 DHA)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
EssentiOmega® (Omega-3 Concentrate)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
Green Tea
Cognitive Function
250–500 mg/day EGCG standardized extract; whole green tea: 3–5 cups/day (≈240–320 mg
Strong
Saffron Extract (Crocus sativus)
Mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer's
Depression (most-studied): 30 mg/day standardized stigma extract × 6-8 weeks. PMS:
Strong
Sensoril® (Ashwagandha Extract — Verdure/Natreon)
Cognitive Performance
125-500 mg/day Sensoril (research-validated; stress applications often 250 mg/day)
Strong
V-Krill Omega® (Krill Omega-3)
Brain and mood support
Commonly 1 to 3 g of combined EPA and DHA per day.
Strong
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Brain Health and Mood Regulation
1.3–1.7 mg/day (RDA); therapeutic: 25–100 mg/day; upper limit 100 mg/day long-term
Moderate
EGb 761® (Standardized Ginkgo biloba Extract)
Symptomatic Support in Mild–Moderate Dementia
120–240 mg/day; dementia and anxiety trials predominantly used 240 mg/day, given once
Moderate
Lion's Mane Mushroom
Brain Health and Cognitive Support
500–3,000 mg/day dried mushroom powder; extract: 250–500 mg/day (standardized to >30%
Very Strong
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Brain & nervous system support (DHA)
1–3 g/day combined EPA+DHA for general health; 2–4 g/day for triglyceride reduction
Moderate
CocoaVia® (Mars Edge Cocoa Flavanol Extract)
Cognitive function in older adults
Standard dose: 500-750 mg cocoa flavanols daily (1-2 CocoaVia® servings). COSMOS trial
Moderate
CoffeeBerry® Cascara
Acute Elevation of Plasma BDNF
100 mg single acute dose (BDNF study); 100-300 mg/day in subsequent cognitive trials.
Moderate
enfinity® Paraxanthine
Supports Cognitive Performance
100-200 mg per serving; 50, 100, and 200 mg evaluated in published dose-response trials.
Moderate
Paraxanthine
Acute Cognitive Performance
50-200 mg as a single acute dose; 100-200 mg is the most commonly studied range for
Moderate
Sage Extract / Cognivia® (Salvia officinalis)
Memory and cognitive performance
COGNIVIA®: 600 mg/day (400 mg S. officinalis aqueous + 50 µL S. lavandulaefolia oil).
Moderate
Theracurmin® (Colloidal Nanoparticle Curcumin — Theravalues)
Cognitive function in older adults
Theracurmin®: 30-180 mg/day (provides curcumin equivalent of much higher standard
Limited
Piracetam (2-Oxo-1-pyrrolidine-acetamide)
Cognitive impairment in elderly — evidence is mixed and conflicted
DEMENTIA: 2.4-9.6 g/day. UCB MCI: 4.8-9.6 g/day × 12 mo. STROKE: 4.8-9.6 g/day. AD: 8
Moderate
Alpha-Lactalbumin
Morning alertness from evening tryptophan loading
EVENING: 20 g 60-90 min pre-bed. DAYTIME: 20 g stress-vulnerable. EXERCISE: 20-30 g
Moderate
Alpinia galanga (Greater Galangal)
Caffeine-free alertness and attention
300 mg/day standardized Alpinia galanga rhizome extract — the dose used in published
Moderate
Bifidobacterium longum 1714 (Zenflore™ / 1714-Serenitas™)
Improved cognition under stress
Standard dose: 1 billion CFU (1×10⁹) once daily as Zenflore™ or 1714-Serenitas™. Trial
Moderate
CardaMind™ (Black Cardamom Cognitive Performance — Akay Bioactives)
Caffeine-level cognitive performance — without caffeine
250 mg/day CardaMind (MA2-24) — the dose used in the pivotal clinical trial. Effects
Moderate
Coffee Fruit Extract (CoffeeFruit Pure™)
BDNF elevation — the brain growth factor
100–200 mg/day whole coffee fruit concentrate; NeuroFactor™ clinical dose: 100 mg/day
Moderate
Cognivia™ (Garden + Spanish Sage Cognitive)
Working memory in healthy adults
PIVOTAL: 600 mg/day Cognivia™ × 29 days (Northumbria University n=94). DOSE
Moderate
Ergothioneine (ErgoActive®)
Cognitive aging and neurodegeneration prevention
5–30 mg/day; most human studies use 5–20 mg/day; dietary intake from mushrooms
Moderate
Ginseng
Cognitive Function
200–400 mg/day standardized extract (ginsenosides ≥4–7%); American ginseng: 100–200
Moderate
L-Tyrosine
Cognitive performance under stress and sleep deprivation
500–2,000 mg/day; cognitive/stress: 100–150 mg/kg before demanding tasks
Moderate
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Mild Cognitive Performance
300-600 mg/day standardized extract; tea 1.5-4.5 g dried herb per cup; tincture 2-3 mL
Moderate
PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone)
Cognitive function and memory
10–20 mg/day; 20 mg most studied for cognitive effects; often combined with 200–300 mg
Moderate
Rhodiolife®
Cognitive performance under stress
200–400 mg/day of standardized Rhodiola rosea extract in stress, anxiety, and fatigue
Moderate
Spearmint Extract
Cognitive function in older adults
Cognitive applications: 900 mg/day Neumentix® standardized spearmint extract.
Moderate
Vinpocetine
Cerebrovascular Insufficiency / Stroke Recovery (Eastern European Use)
5-10 mg three times daily (15-30 mg/day total); some research uses up to 60 mg/day
Moderate
Yüth® (Spermidine)
Cognitive function and neuroprotection
1–10 mg/day spermidine (Yüth® formulation specifications); typical supplement use: 1.2
Limited
Guayusa (AMATEA® Organic Guayusa)
Clean energy and sustained focus
300–600 mg/day AMATEA® extract (providing 50–100 mg natural caffeine equivalent);
Moderate
Astaxanthin
Cognitive function in older adults
4–12 mg/day from Haematococcus pluvialis extract; skin: 4–6 mg/day; exercise recovery:
Moderate
BioPQQ® (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone — Mitsubishi)
Memory and cognition
About 20 mg per day.
Moderate
Bluenesse® (Lemon Balm Extract — Vital Solutions)
Calm, focused cognition
Around 300 mg per day.
Moderate
Dynamine® (Methylliberine)
Fast-onset energy and focus
100–200 mg Dynamine® standalone; 100 mg Dynamine® + 100–200 mg caffeine (synergistic
Moderate
FastBliss® (Paraxanthine)
Cognitive enhancement without caffeine anxiety
50–200 mg/day paraxanthine; cognitive benefits at doses as low as 50 mg; full effect
Moderate
Ginkgo 24/6 (Standardized Ginkgo biloba Extract)
Cognition and memory
Commonly 120 to 240 mg of standardized extract per day.
Moderate
Ginkgolden® (Ginkgo biloba Extract)
Cognition and memory
Commonly 120 to 240 mg of standardized extract per day.
Moderate
GinPure® (Ginkgo biloba Extract)
Cognition and memory
Commonly 120 to 240 mg of standardized extract per day.
Moderate
GinSelect® (Ginkgo biloba Extract)
Cognition and memory
Commonly 120 to 240 mg of standardized extract per day.
Moderate
goBHB® (Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Ketone Salts)
Rapid ketosis and alternative brain fuel
6–12g BHB salts to achieve meaningful blood ketone elevation (0.5–1.0 mmol/L);
Moderate
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Cognitive function
300–600 mg/day dried leaf extract; 1–2 g/day whole leaf powder
Moderate
Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)
Supports Cognitive Development
Adult clinical trials have used 5-20 g/day of 2'-FL and/or LNnT; infant formulas
Moderate
i-Sabi® (Wasabi Extract — 6-MSITC)
Memory in older adults
About 0.8 mg of 6-MSITC (around 100 mg of wasabi extract) per day.
Moderate
Mangiferin
Supports Cognitive Performance
Vimang mango bark extract: 300-900 mg/day standardized to mangiferin; Zynamite mango
Moderate
MCT Oil (Medium-Chain Triglycerides)
Cognitive performance and brain energy
15–30 mL/day (1–2 tablespoons); start with 5–10 mL and increase gradually to avoid GI
Moderate
Multivitamin / Multimineral
Slowing of cognitive decline (COSMOS-Mind)
STANDARD: 1 tablet/day MVMM ~100% DV most vitamins, 25-100% DV minerals. PHS II +
Moderate
Puremidine™ (Spermidine)
Cognitive function and neuroprotection
1–10 mg/day spermidine; observational longevity data at dietary intake of ~10–15
Moderate
Rosmarinic Acid
Slowed cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer's disease
ALLERGIC RHINITIS: 50-200 mg/day Perilla × 21 d. AD COGNITION (Noguchi-Shinohara): 500
Moderate
SaraPEPP™ Nu
Improved speed of attention (branded RCT)
Daily with MCT carrier
Moderate
Schisandra Chinensis (Five-Flavor Berry)
Cognitive Performance and Mental Stamina
500-2,000 mg/day extract (standardized to schisandrin content); berry powder 1-6
Moderate
Sharp-PS® (Soy-Free Sunflower Phosphatidylserine)
Memory and cognitive support in older adults with complaints
Most cognition and stress trials use 100–400 mg/day PS (typically 100 mg three times
Moderate
Synapsa® (Bacopa monnieri Extract — KeyView)
Memory and learning
About 320 mg per day, taken for several weeks for cognitive effects.
Moderate
Veri-te™ Resveratrol (Evolva)
Cognitive performance in postmenopausal women
RESHAW PIVOTAL: 75 mg trans-resveratrol BID = 150 mg/day × 12-24 months in
Moderate
VitaCholine® (Choline Bitartrate — Balchem)
Brain and memory support
Commonly 300 to 550 mg of choline per day.
Moderate
Zembrin® (Sceletium tortuosum)
Cognitive performance under stress
8–25 mg/day Zembrin®; anxiety/mood: 8–25 mg/day; cognitive studies use 25 mg/day;
Moderate
Zensera™ (Stress-Cognitive Ingredient by Givaudan)
Same-day cognitive benefits under stress
Per Zensera™ clinical dosing from Givaudan; single-dose acute benefits confirmed in
Moderate
AlphaWave® L-Theanine (NutriScience)
Focus and attention
100 to 200 mg per day, taken as needed for calm focus or before sleep.
Moderate
BioPS® (Soy Phosphatidylserine — ECA Healthcare)
Memory and cognition
Commonly 100 to 300 mg per day.
Moderate
Chocamine® (Cocoa Extract — RFI)
Smooth energy and focus
Commonly around 500 mg to 1.5 g of cocoa extract per day.
Moderate
CocoaGanic® (Organic Cocoa Flavanols)
Cognitive support
Commonly providing a few hundred milligrams of cocoa flavanols per day.
Moderate
CocoaNol® (Cocoa Flavanol Extract)
Cognitive support
Commonly providing a few hundred milligrams of cocoa flavanols per day.
Moderate
Ecklonia Cava (Brown Seaweed Polyphenol)
Cognitive function and neuroprotection
400–800 mg/day Ecklonia cava extract standardized for phlorotannins; clinical studies
Moderate
Eupoly-3® (DHA and EPA Omega-3)
Brain and cognition
A serving providing several hundred milligrams of combined DHA and EPA per day.
Moderate
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
Anxiety and Cognitive Support
60-120 mg/day standardized extract (containing total triterpenes ~30%); whole herb 1-2
Moderate
Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 + Bifidobacterium longum R0175 (Probio'Stick® / Cerebiome®)
Brain-imaging mechanism evidence
3 billion CFU per sachet daily for 30 days (Probio'Stick® / Cerebiome®). Longer
Moderate
Mucuna Pruriens (Velvet Bean / Kapikacchu)
Mood and Cognitive Support
Standardized to L-DOPA content: 250-500 mg L-DOPA per dose for Parkinson-related uses
Moderate
Shagandha® (Ashwagandha Root Extract)
Cognitive and Wellbeing Support
Ashwagandha root-extract stress/sleep trials commonly used 300–600 mg/day of
Limited
Anserine (β-alanyl-3-methyl-L-histidine)
Verbal memory preservation in older adults
HISATSUNE 2016 COGNITIVE: 1.0 g anserine/carnosine 3:1 daily × 3 mo. MASUOKA 2019 MCI
Limited
Aniracetam (Ro 13-5057)
Mild Alzheimer's disease (Senin 1991 multicenter RCT)
AD RCT: 1500 mg/day × 6 mo. STANDARD: 750-1500 mg/day in 2-3 doses with meals.
Limited
Brainberry® (Aronia melanocarpa Extract)
Long-term cognitive performance in middle-aged adults
: 90 mg or 150 mg AME daily × 24 wk middle-aged adults. CROSSOVER: 160 mg/day older
Limited
Centrophenoxine (Meclofenoxate)
DMAE/cholinergic precursor effect
DEMENTIA: 1560-2000 mg/day (Pek 1989: 2 g/day × 8 wk). HEALTHY ELDERLY: ~1200 mg/day.
Limited
Cognigrape® (Vitis vinifera Grape Extract)
Cognitive function in older adults
PIVOTAL: 250 mg/day Cognigrape® × 12 wk single daily dose. 2024 FOLLOW-UP: 250 mg/day
Limited
Memophenol™ (Grape + Blueberry Polyphenol Extract)
Episodic memory in healthy elderly
Healthy elderly: 600 mg/day Memophenol™ (containing 258 mg flavonoids) × 6 months. MCI
Limited
Oxiracetam (4-Hydroxy Piracetam)
Mild-moderate dementia cognitive support
Dementia trials: 800 mg twice daily (1,600 mg/day). Nootropic users: 800-2,400 mg/day
Limited
Phenylpiracetam (Phenotropil / Carphedon)
Cognitive impairment from organic causes
RUSSIAN: 100-200 mg/day divided morning + early afternoon. STROKE/TBI: 200-400 mg/day.
Limited
Pyritinol (Pyrithioxine / Encephabol)
Senile dementia cognitive support
Dementia (European Rx protocol): 200 mg hydrochloride three times daily (600 mg/day).
Limited
Silk Amino Acids / Silk Fibroin Hydrolysate
Cognitive function support — memory, attention, mental focus
COGNITIVE: 200-600 mg silk fibroin enzyme hydrolysate (FEH)/day × 3-16 wk. STAMINA:
Limited
Apoaequorin Protein
Marketed for memory support
Manufacturer trials have typically used 10 mg of apoaequorin per day; the commercial
Limited
D-Serine
NMDA co-agonist (cognitive research)
SCHIZOPHRENIA: 30 mg/kg/day (~2-2.5 g/day adult) up to 120 mg/kg/day dose-escalation.
Limited
Enzogenol® (Pinus radiata Bark Extract)
Working memory in healthy older adults
Cognitive: 480 mg/day × 5 weeks. Mild TBI: 1,000 mg/day × 6-12 weeks. Take with food.
Limited
Ligusticum Chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong)
Promotes Cerebrovascular Wellness
Traditional decoctions use 3-9 g/day of dried rhizome; modern standardized extracts
Limited
Magnesium Acetyl-Taurate
Cognitive and brain interest
Human dosing is not well established; animal studies used weight-based doses. Products
Limited
Mexidol (Ethylmethylhydroxypyridine Succinate)
Stroke rehabilitation cognitive recovery
MIR 2024 STROKE PROTOCOL: 500 mg IV 2×/day × 10 days, then Mexidol FORTE 250 mg PO
Limited
Semax (ACTH 4-7 PGP)
Cognitive enhancement / nootropic effects
STROKE (Russian approved): 12-18 mg/day intranasal in 3-6 doses × 10-14 days.
Limited
Virtiva® (Ginkgo biloba Phytosome)
Mental Performance Interest
Ginkgo cognition trials commonly used standardized extract ~120–240 mg/day; phytosome
Strong
Levagen+® (PEA — Palmitoylethanolamide — Gencor)
Cognitive function support
Standard dose: 300-600 mg/day Levagen+® — substantially lower than typical PEA
Limited
Axivite® (Energy and Cognitive Performance Ingredient)
Sustained energy and mental alertness
Per Axivite® product specifications; clinical dosing per SEE Nutrition product
Limited
Centellory® (Gotu Kola Extract)
Cognition and memory
Commonly 250 to 750 mg of standardized extract per day.
Limited
Cera-Q® (Silk Fibroin Peptides)
Memory support
About 400 to 600 mg of fibroin hydrolysate per day, in divided doses.
Limited
Hōlistiq™ (Adaptogen + Mushroom Wellness Blend)
Cognitive clarity and mental performance
Per product label; typical adaptogen blend 300–800mg/day; mushroom component
Limited
Nefiracetam (DM-9384)
Alzheimer's disease (NIH-sponsored Phase 2)
ROBINSON 2009 (poststroke apathy): 600-900 mg/day × 12 wk. NOOTROPIC: 150-450 mg/day
Limited
NeuGrape® (Grape Seed Extract for Cognition)
Cognitive support
Commonly 100 to 300 mg per day.
Limited
Pregnenolone
Neurosteroid (cognitive research)
10-100 mg/day (start LOW); some integrative practitioners use 5-30 mg; trials have
Limited
Uridine
Brain Phospholipid Precursor
JENSEN 2008 BIPOLAR: triacetyluridine (TAU) up to 18 g/day × 6 wk. KONDO 2011
Strong
Pomegranate Extract
Cognitive aging support (preliminary)
Standard cardiovascular dose: 500-1,500 mg/day pomegranate extract standardized to
Strong
Soy Isoflavones (Glycine max)
Cognitive support in menopause
40–80 mg/day total isoflavones; menopausal symptoms: 50–80 mg/day; bone health: 54–100
Limited
Bromantane (Ladasten)
Sleep deprivation cognitive performance
RUSSIAN APPROVED (asthenia): 50-100 mg/day morning × 28 days. NOOTROPIC: 25-50 mg/day.
Limited
Centevita® (Centella asiatica Extract — Indena)
Cognitive and calm support
Commonly 60 to 120 mg of standardized extract per day.
Limited
GS15-4® (Enzyme-Fermented Ginseng — Ilhwa)
Cognitive support
Around 165 mg of fermented ginseng extract per day.
Limited
Hoki Roe Powder
Promotes Cognitive Function
Commercial supplements typically provide 500-1,500 mg of hoki roe powder daily,
Limited
PANMOL® NADH Micro
Mental Clarity and Focus
5-10 mg/day taken sublingually or on an empty stomach in morning; CFS trial used 10
Limited
Phenylethylamine (β-PEA)
Pre-Workout Focus Component
100-500 mg orally as a single acute dose; effects are very brief (<10 minutes) due to
Moderate
Ginkgo Biloba
Cognitive Function and Memory
120–240 mg/day standardized leaf extract (24% flavonol glycosides, 6% terpene
Preliminary
Pramiracetam (Pramistar)
Senile cognitive disorders (Italian approval — limited evidence)
STANDARD: 600 mg BID (1200 mg/day) with meals. AD TRIALS: 400-1500 mg/day. POST-TBI /
Moderate
Lysoveta® (LPC-Bound EPA/DHA from Krill — Aker BioMarine)
>2-fold brain DHA elevation (preclinical)
NDI-approved up to 1.5 g/day for general adult population (US). Preclinical brain
Moderate
Shilajit
Cognitive support (preliminary)
Standard clinical dose: 250 mg twice daily (500 mg/day total) of purified shilajit
Limited
Fasoracetam (NS-105 / NFC-1)
Experimental nootropic (mGluR modulator)
HAKONARSON 2017 (ADHD adolescents): 50-800 mg/day, escalation up to 400 mg BID × 4 wk.
Limited
Methylene Blue (Methylthioninium Chloride)
Cognitive Function (Limited Human Evidence)
Pharmaceutical (methemoglobinemia): 1-2 mg/kg IV; 'biohacking' use: 0.5-4 mg/day oral
Limited
Oxaloacetate (Anhydrous Enol)
Cognitive function support
Standard dose: 100-300 mg/day anhydrous enol oxaloacetate (benaGene™). Cognitive
Preliminary
DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol / Deanol)
ADHD/learning disabilities in children (1970s historical RCTs)
ADHD HISTORICAL: 500 mg/day in 1970s pediatric trials. NOOTROPIC: 100-200 mg/day.
Preliminary
Lithium Orotate
Cognitive Function (Theoretical)
5-20 mg elemental lithium/day (lithium orotate 130-520 mg providing ~4.6%-20%
Preliminary
Picamilon (N-Nicotinoyl-GABA)
Cerebrovascular disease and cerebral circulation
RUSSIAN APPROVED: 50 mg 3×/day (150 mg/day). CEREBROVASCULAR: 100-300 mg/day. ANXIETY:
Moderate
Codonopsis lanceolata (Deodeok / Korean Bonnet Bellflower)
Cognitive enhancement (preclinical)
TCM TYPICAL: 9-15 g/day root decoction. SARCOPENIA RCT (Park 2022 protocol): 750 mg
Moderate
PhosphatidylCholine
Cognitive function — choline pathway
NAFLD/MASLD: 1.5-2.1 g/day standardized PC × 6 months. General choline/cognitive:
Limited
Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Zhi Mu)
Supports cognitive function
Traditional TCM decoctions use 6–12 g dried rhizome daily; standardized extracts in
Limited
Catuaba (Trichilia catigua)
Antifatigue and memory effects (preclinical)
TRADITIONAL TINCTURE: 30-60 drops 2-3×/day. CAPSULE: 500-1,000 mg standardized bark
Limited
Euphoria longana (Longan Fruit Pulp Extract)
Supports cognitive and memory function
Traditional Chinese Medicine doses of dried longan aril typically range from 6 to 15 g
Limited
Oleocanthal
Potential cognitive-aging support
No established human supplemental dose. Mechanistic studies estimate that
Limited
Sulbutiamine (Arcalion)
Cognitive enhancement (limited evidence)
ASTHENIA (Arcalion approved): 200-600 mg/day divided. Shipelowitz 1984 best at 600 mg.
Strong
Nicotinamide Riboside
Possible cognitive aging support
Standard dose: 250-1,000 mg/day NR. Most clinical trials use 300-600 mg/day. Take with
Moderate
Benfotiamine
Cognitive function in early Alzheimer's (preliminary)
DIABETIC NEUROPATHY (BENDIP): 600 mg/day × 6 wk then 300 mg/day. BOND: 300 mg BID × 12
Moderate
PrimaVie® (Shilajit Extract — Natreon)
Cognitive support (preliminary)
Clinical trial dose: 250 mg twice daily (500 mg/day total) for 90 days. CoQ10
Moderate
SAMe (S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine)
Cognitive Health
400–800 mg/day for depression; 600–1,200 mg/day for osteoarthritis; taken on empty
Moderate
Tocotrienols (Vitamin E Family)
Neuroprotection (Stroke Research)
100-400 mg/day total tocotrienols; for cholesterol/CV: 200-300 mg gamma+delta
Limited
Bemethyl (Bemitil / Metaprot)
Cognitive performance under stress
RUSSIAN/CIS APPROVED: 250-500 mg 1-2×/day for asthenia; courses 3-5 days with 2-3 day
Limited
Lecithin (Phosphatidylcholine Complex)
Possible Cognitive Support (As Choline Source)
CV: 500 mg to 22.5 g/day soy lecithin (Knuiman 1980: 7.5 g × 3/day). Spilburg 2003
Limited
Pterostilbene
Cognitive Function Support
50-250 mg/day; trial used 125 mg twice daily (250 mg/day total)
Preliminary
Alcolec® (Phosphatidylcholine / Lecithin — American Lecithin)
Choline and brain support
Commonly a few hundred milligrams to grams per day.
Preliminary
Decursinol-50® (Angelica gigas Extract)
Cognitive interest
Commonly around 100 to 200 mg per day.
Strong
FerroChel® (Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate)
Iron — supports cognition when deficient
Typical FerroChel® doses provide 14–28 mg elemental iron once daily for routine
Strong
Niagen® (Nicotinamide Riboside — ChromaDex)
NAD+ precursor (cognitive-aging research)
Clinical trial doses: 250-1,000 mg/day Niagen®. Most studies use 300-600 mg/day. Take
Strong
Quatrefolic® (L-5-MTHF Methylfolate — Gnosis)
Active folate — brain & homocysteine support
General supplementation: 400-1,000 mcg DFE Quatrefolic® daily. Pregnancy: 400-800 mcg
Strong
Zenroot® (Low-Dose Bioavailable Ashwagandha Root Extract — OmniActive)
Low-dose ashwagandha — stress & cognition
125 mg/day Zenroot (used in both 2025 published trials). The bioavailability advantage
Moderate
Asera™ (Ashwagandha)
Ashwagandha — stress & cognitive support
160 mg/day
Moderate
B-Complex (Combined B Vitamins)
Brain & nervous-system support (B vitamins)
1× RDA (basic) to 5-10× RDA (high-potency) of each B vitamin; varies by product
Moderate
Idebenone
Mitochondrial support (cognitive-aging research)
LHON (Raxone® EMA-approved): 900 mg/day in 3 divided doses (150 mg × 2 caps × 3/day).
Moderate
TeaCrine® (Theacrine)
Clean energy & sustained focus
STANDARD: 100-300 mg/day (safety to 300 mg × 8 wk continuous). STACK: 125-150 mg
Moderate
Theobromine
Mild, sustained alertness
Controlled trials have used 250-1000 mg pure theobromine acutely and 700-979 mg/day
Moderate
Vanizem® (Grains of Paradise Extract for Stress + Mood + Sleep — PLT Health)
Stress, mood & sleep support
100-150 mg/day Vanizem — the doses producing significant effects in the clinical
Limited
L-Phenylalanine / DLPA
Catecholamine precursor (focus & mood)
L-phenylalanine: 500–1,500 mg/day for mood/cognitive support; DLPA: 375–2,250 mg/day
Limited
Luteolin
Neuroinflammation support (preliminary)
100-300 mg/day general use; mast cell protocols often use luteolin 100-200 mg with
Limited
Selank (TP-7)
Anxiolytic nootropic peptide
RUSSIAN APPROVED (intranasal): 2700 μg/day in 2-3 doses. NOOTROPIC: 250-500 μg/dose,
Limited
Trehalose
Autophagy induction (neuroprotection research)
GLUCOSE TOLERANCE: 3.3-10 g/day (Mizote 2017: 10 g; Yoshizane 2020: 3.3 g). PAD pilot:
Preliminary
Coluracetam (BCI-540 / MKC-231)
Choline-uptake nootropic (early research)
BrainCells PHASE IIa: 240 mg/day (80 mg × 3). NOOTROPIC: 5-80 mg per dose, 1-3×/day.
Preliminary
L-Glutamic Acid / Glutamate
Excitatory neurotransmitter (glutamate)
Not typically supplemented; dietary intake substantial (10–20 g/day in typical diet,