3 Tips to select the right Brain Health supplement

October 12, 2022
Posted by Dr. Suzanne Soliman, PharmD

In the last few years, there has been research which suggests that we can do things to improve our brain health and that it matters long term! The brain has an amazing ability to form new neural connections, also known as neuroplasticity. This allows the brain to change and evolve throughout the course of one’s life.¹ Therefore, it is never too early or too late to start taking care of your brain.

Brain health supplements can be a great addition to complement a brain-healthy lifestyle. For most patients, brain health supplements come to mind when they start to experience signs or symptoms of mild cognitive decline; however, it is never too early to start caring for the brain. Brain health supplements can be used by adults looking to support cognitive health, which includes more than just memory. However, selecting the right brain health supplement is not always easy.

Are you interested in giving brain health supplements a try? With so much information packed onto every product label, it can be tricky to know where to begin.

Below are 3 tips to help select the right one for you:

1. Backed by Science - Brain Supplements are NOT  all equal. Select the one backed by science. Ingredients in Neuriva are Neurofactor^®, a whole coffee cherry extract and phosphatidylserine. Neurofactor is made from coffee cherry fruit and has been shown to stimulate the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neuroprotein that stimulates and manages the process of neurogenesis (how new neurons are formed in the brain). ²The amount of Neurofactor in Neuriva has been demonstrated in clinical trials to play an important role in maintaining the health of existing brain cells while supporting focus, concentration, accuracy and memory. A study published in 2019, which was a double blind, randomized controlled trial, demonstrated coffee cherry extract is associated with improvements in reaction times/speed of cognitive performance. The reaction time reductions suggest that coffee cherry extract supports focus, concentration and accuracy. ³ Neuriva’s other ingredient, phosphatidylserine, has been researched for decades on cognitive health. It is a phospholipid nutrient present throughout the body, but especially present in the brain’s nerve cells. This ingredient helps to support proper functioning of these nerve cells and communication between them. Additionally, key B vitamins have been added to the Neuriva Plus product to support brain health.⁴  
2. Details, Details, Details –When selecting a supplement, it is critical to look at the “other” ingredients, including sweeteners, allergens, and dietary restricted ingredients (i.e., animal derived ingredients, preservatives or additives). Food allergens that are required to be disclosed include: milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and peanuts. Some additives increase the shelf life of supplements, help bind ingredients together, or improve the texture, color, taste or consistency of the product. Finally, price is important.
3. Manufacturer -Have you ever stood in the supplement and herbal aisle wondering which brand to buy? Or, have you ever shopped online and found yourself questioning the price discrepancy between two similar products? It’s important to learn what company is behind each supplement. As a pharmacist, it is important to me to know “who” is behind the supplement. Neuriva is manufactured by Reckitt, a consumer health, hygiene and nutrition company that takes the safety of its ingredients and products seriously. All Neuriva products are manufactured within the strict FDA guidelines and Current Good Manufacturing Process, and all products are tested for purity and labeled potency. The company also consults with various brain health experts, including pharmacists like me, to help advance brain health education and research.

Learn more about Neuriva brain health supplements by visiting Neuriva.com.

THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

¹ Voss P, Thomas ME, Cisneros-Franco JM, de Villers-Sidani E. Dynamic brains and the changing rules of neuroplasticity: implications for learning and recovery. Front. Psychol. 2017;8:1657. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01657.

² Autry AE, Monteggia LM. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuropsychiatric disorders. Pharmacol Rev. 2012 Apr;64(2):238-58. doi: 10.1124/pr.111.005108. Epub 2012 Mar 8. PMID: 22407616; PMCID: PMC3310485.

³ Robinson JL, Hunter JM, Reyes-Izquierdo T, Argumedo R, et. al. Cognitive short- and long-term effects of coffee cherry extract in older adults with mild cognitive decline. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2020 Nov;27(6):918-934. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2019.1702622. Epub 2019 Dec 12. PMID: 31829793.

⁴ EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B12 and contribution to normal neurological and psychological functions (ID 95, 97, 98, 100, 102, 109), contribution to normal homocysteine metabolism (ID 96, 103, 106), maintenance of normal bone (ID 104), maintenance of normal teeth (ID 104), maintenance of normal hair (ID 104), maintenance of normal skin (ID 104), maintenance of normal nails (ID 104), reduction of tiredness and fatigue (ID 108), and cell division (ID 212) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1756. [23 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1756. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal.htm.