Fact Check: 5 best memory cognitive supplements

There are current studies with mixed results regarding the benefit of carnitine, gingko biloba, Huperzine A, vitamin D, and vitamin E supplementation for memory. Dietary supplements geared toward improving cognition are a billion-dollar industry ...

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Supplement marketers i-Health, Inc. and Martek Biosciences Corporation have agreed to settle FTC charges of deceptive advertising for claiming that their BrainStrong Adult dietary supplement will improve adult memory and prevent cognitive decline.

The US-based Alzheimer's Association, a nonprofit group that follows and funds research, says no single product is known to cure the disease -- and that many supplements are being marketed with "misleading" claims. The FDA warns consumers about supposed cures and treatments sold as dietary supplements. "These purported miracle cures are sold primarily on the Internet. They are often, though not always, falsely labeled as dietary supplements," the agency says on its website. "Regardless of their form, these products fly in the face of true science. What these companies are selling is the false hope that there is an effective treatment or cure."

"Improves memory." "Sharpens focus." These are just some of the claims you may see on the supplements that 25% of adults over age 50 are taking to try to keep their brains healthy. Do these products work? It's often unclear, as the FDA doesn’t require makers to prove the supplements are effective, as long they don't make any claims about specific diseases.

Short-term memory recovery may benefit from phosphatidylserine supplementation in older adults, and most studies use approximately 300 mg daily. However, the evidence is mixed. A well-designed trial using soy-derived PS at 300 and 600 mg/day for 12 weeks found no significant differences from placebo on primary memory outcomes.

In a 12-week trial of 149 older adults with age-associated memory impairment, those taking 300 mg of phosphatidylserine daily (split into three 100 mg doses) improved on tests related to learning and memory tasks of daily life compared to placebo. The people who benefited most were those who scored lowest before treatment began. This subgroup improved on both computerized and standard neuropsychological tests, and clinicians rated them as globally improved. Phosphatidylserine is available in soy-derived and sunflower-derived forms. Most studies used 300 mg per day, and it’s generally well tolerated.

Research on various brain health supplements doesn’t support their use. A healthy diet gives you the nutrients your brain and body need.