DMAE Skin & Brain Health Benefits + Dosage & Side Effects

The quests for natural nootropics and anti-aging skincare products intersect with DMAE. It’s supposed to boost your mood, cognition, and skin health – but it might do the opposite instead. We reveal the science behind its benefits and side effects, helping you decide whether it’s worth a try. DMAE (2-dimethylaminoethanol or dimethylethanolamine) is a substance that occurs naturally in your brain. Sardines, anchovies, and other seafood contain minor amounts of DMAE, but it is not considered a nutrient [ 1 ]. DMAE supplies choline , a component essential for a healthy brain and nervous system. Doctors used to prescribe it under the trade name Deanol for childhood behavioral problems [ 2 ]. This drug is no longer available due to questionable safety and efficacy. Despite the Deanol ban, DMAE is still a popular nootropic . It’s an active ingredient in the cognition-enhancing drug centrophenoxine (Lucidril) [ 3 ]. You will also find DMAE in anti-aging and moisturizing skin care products – creams, serums, and lotions. PROS: May enhance mood and cognition May help with attention disorders Improves skin appearance and hydration CONS: May worsen Alzheimer’s disease and mental disorders May cause confusion and muscle cramps Not safe for pregnant women May damage skin cells DMAE provides antioxidant protection and builds choline, which is essential for [ 4 , 5 ]: Healthy nerves and brain cells Heart health Fat metabolism As a choline precursor, DMAE may boost acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter that plays critical roles in cognition and memory . However, the impact of DMAE on choline and ACh is complex and not yet fully understood. DMAE raises the blood levels of choline, but it also competes for the same brain transporter. As a result, it may not boost acetylcholine in the brain [ 6 ]. Two studies on rats […]

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