Key Takeaways

Neuriva and Prevagen are two popular brain health supplements taken for healthy brain function.
Studies have shown that Neuriva supplementation is safe, well tolerated, and beneficial in improving brain function in healthy adults with self-reported memory problems.
A study showed that Prevagen resulted in cognitive improvement in older adults with normal or very mild impairment of brain function.

The human brain and central nervous system is the most complex organ in the body that controls behavior, interprets senses, initiates movement, and is the center of cognition and memory. Brain supplements are over-the-counter dietary supplements that may help to improve memory and brain performance and support brain health. Neuriva and Prevagen are two popular brain health supplements that many people take for healthy brain function.

Just as with any over-the-counter products, it is important to keep in mind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these products. Therefore, you should always talk to your healthcare provider to prevent bothersome or even harmful side effects caused by drug interactions. Please continue reading to learn more about the brain health benefits of Neuriva vs Prevagen.

Can brain supplements improve brain function in people with mild cognitive impairment?

Surveys have shown that 1 in 4 adults over the age of 50 in the US take a dietary supplement to prevent cognitive decline, enhance memory, and improve focus and attention. However, unfortunately, there is no solid proof that even the best brain supplements can support cognitive function or increase memory recall.

Moreover, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements. You cannot be sure that a brain health supplement actually contains the ingredients mentioned on the label. While brain supplements are not allowed to make any health claims related to specific conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, they can make nonspecific claims, such as helping with mild memory loss, improving mental alertness, or enhancing cognitive performance, which cannot be verified.

With that said, many brain supplements contain ingredients that might improve cognitive function and brain health. Experts say it’s not that brain supplements don’t work. It’s just that we don’t have strong scientific evidence from clinical trials that any specific brain supplement can definitely enhance cognitive function or improve memory.

What is Neuriva?

Neuriva is a supplement from Schiff Vitamins that is designed for improving brain health. It was introduced in the U.S. in 2018 and contains two naturally sourced ingredients, 100 milligrams (mg) of coffee cherry extract (coffee fruit extract) and 100 mg of phosphatidylserine, that are believed to have positive effects on brain cells. Specifically, according to Neuriva’s makers, coffee fruit extract works to improve the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that is essential for neuronal development and survival. One of the newest brain supplements from the Neuriva family, called Neuriva Ultra, claims to improve overall cognitive function by enhancing memory, focus, learning, concentration, accuracy, reasoning, and mental alertness. Neuriva is available in the form of gummies and capsules.

What is Prevagen?

Prevagen brain supplement is an over-the-counter dietary supplement that enhances cognitive functions and improves memory. It contains two ingredients, vitamin D and apoaequorin, that are believed to support brain cell health in people with normal or mildly decreased brain performance. Prevagen is available in capsule form, to be taken once daily by mouth. It comes in regular strength, chewable tablets, extra strength, protein shakes, and professional formula.

Do Neuriva and Prevagen really work for memory loss?

Neuriva

One study compared Neuriva to placebo and found that taking the brain health supplement for 42 days resulted in greater improvements in memory, task accuracy, focus, concentration, reaction time, and verbal learning. However, no significant differences were observed between the Neuriva and placebo groups in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ), and Go/No-Go tests. The study authors concluded that Neuriva supplementation was safe, well tolerated, and beneficial in improving brain function in healthy adults with self-reported memory problems.

Prevagen

The manufacturer of Prevagen conducted clinical research through a randomized placebo controlled trial. They claimed that apoaequorin, which is a calcium-binding protein and one of the ingredients in Prevagen, improves cognitive function through its effects on brain cell membranes. However, no differences were found between the apoaequorin and control groups. In fact, there is strong evidence that apoaequorin is digested in the stomach before it even reaches the brain. Additionally, there is no data or insufficient data on the effects of apoaequorin on lifespan, age-related diseases, or the ability to slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). When apoaequorin is applied directly on rat brain slices, it does provide protection from ischemic cell death.

The Madison Memory Study demonstrated that Prevagen resulted in cognitive improvement in older adults with normal or very mild impairment of brain function. A 90-day randomized controlled trial in older adults suggested that apoaequorin is well-tolerated. In terms of safety assessment, there are no reports of serious side effects after widespread consumer use of Prevagen. However, the effects of high doses or long-term use of apoaequorin have not been studied in humans.

Notably, there are some controversies concerning Quincy Bioscience, the maker of Prevagen. In 2012, the FDA sent out a letter to Quincy Bioscience regarding their sales of “an unapproved drug” and “illegal claims on Prevagen’s memory-improving properties, among other concerns.

What is better: Prevagen vs Neuriva?

Brain plaques, neurofibrillary tangles of tau proteins, and inflammation in the human brain are the three main factors responsible for causing memory loss. One study compared the ability of major brain supplements to reduce fibrils and tau protein filaments in order to try and find the best brain supplement.

In terms of Neuriva vs Prevagen, the study analyzing in-vitro comparison of these supplements found the following:

Neuriva Original reduced fibrils by 27% and tau tangles by 38.4%
Neuriva Plus reduced fibrils by 27% and tau tangles by 57.4%
Prevagen reduced fibrils by 12.9% and tau tangles by 0%

What is the best, most effective brain supplement?

A brain supplement called Percepta, which contains cat’s claw and oolong tea extract, was found to be the most effective (it reduced fibrils by 69.6% and tau tangles by 85.7%). However, it is worth noting that this study was sponsored by Cognitive Clarity Inc., the company that makes Percepta.

What is the highest-rated memory pill for brain health?

Some of the best memory pills and supplements for brain health include ingredients such as omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin D, creatine, caffeine, L-theanine, choline, resveratrol, lion’s mane mushrooms, theobromine, probiotics, and prebiotics, magnesium, ashwagandha, and phosphatidylserine.

How to choose the best brain supplements?

Finding the best brain supplement, Neutriva vs Prevagen, or something else may require some trial and error. You may find that one brain supplement works better than others for overall cognitive enhancement, reducing brain fog, or improving mental clarity, memory, focus, concentration, and overall brain health.

Keep in mind that no brain supplement has been clinically proven to prevent or reverse a condition such as Alzheimer disease. When choosing brain supplements, be wary of products that claim to be a magic bullet to prevent or reverse subjective cognitive impairment. Some brain supplements, including Neuriva and Prevagen, may improve neuron health, but there are no supplements proven to have beneficial effects.

It’s also worth making a note of the quantity of nutrients in any brain supplement. Too little of a hyped nutrient may have no clinical benefits, while too much of an ingredient at high doses could prove toxic.

Always buy high-quality brain supplements from reputable sources that carry the good manufacturing practices (GMP) certification and have undergone third-party testing. Consult your health professionals before starting any new brain supplement to ensure it is safe for you and will not interact with your other medications.

Lastly, remember that lifestyle measures such as getting enough sleep, consuming a balanced diet, and regular exercise are vital for promoting memory and removing toxic brain cells. These measures can also act as a de-stress formula and support mood by reducing anxiety.

References:

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