Nootropics: Do These Supplements Actually Boost Brain Functioning?

It seems a bit far-fetched for someone to claim that a supplement could improve your cognitive function, memory, and other aspects of your mental performance. We probably tend to take these claims with a grain of salt. But some research suggest that certain components of these supplements may enhance cognitive functioning. However, it's still best to take precaution.

The research on brain-boosting supplements is ambiguous itself. While some of the ingredients in brain-boosting supplements have shown to be beneficial, the studies have been inconsistent, explained Dr. Michael Genovese, a clinical psychiatrist and chief medical officer of Acadia Healthcare.

Dr. David J. Puder, medical director of the behavioral health outpatient program at the Loma Linda University, puts it a little more bluntly: “The people making these supplements are not doing randomized controlled trials to determine if they really work,” he said. “They mostly use data about what might work, throw it together and add a bunch of excellent marketing.”

A few ingredients that usually come up in these supplements are caffeine, Omega-3 fatty acids, Bacopa monnieri, and Ginkgo biloba to name a few. You may check out here what some studies say about the possible outcomes of these ingredients.

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