Can Prevagen and other brain-boosting dietary supplements such as Ginkgo Biloba really sharpen thinking and prevent dementia? Here’s the 411 on what actually works.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
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THE CLAIM: Dietary supplements can improve your memory.
We all want to keep our minds sharp as we age, and there’s no shortage of vitamins, herbs, and other dietary supplements that supposedly do just that. Surveys show that more than 25% of people age 50 and older take supplements to improve brain function or ward off dementia. In most cases, though, the science behind these supplements is forgettable.
One of the most popular memory supplements is Ginkgo Biloba, which some studies but not all have found may improve mental function in people with dementia.
But research has by and large failed to prove that it can prevent dementia or sharpen thinking in healthy people.
For fish oil supplements, which are used for brain health as well as heart health, the evidence is mixed.
Some research suggests they may help older people with mild memory complaints while other studies show no benefits.
The evidence is even more limited for other purported brain boosting substances such as Green Tea extracts, Curcumin, and Huperzine A.
Audio from TV commercial: Can a protein originally found in a jellyfish really improve your memory?
The same goes for products advertised on TV and the internet, some of which the government has charged with making false claims.
One supplement that’s likely beneficial, at least in some cases, is vitamin B-12. A deficiency of this vitamin, which is detected by a blood test, can lead to memory issues, among other things. And B-12 supplements may help reverse the problem. But they don’t improve memory if vitamin B-12 levels are normal.
Keep in mind that all supplements are only loosely regulated, which means manufacturers don’t have to prove their products are effective. And theres often no guarantee that supplements actually contain whats listed on the label.
Whats more, supplements are not risk free. They can have side effects and interact with medications.
Thats why it’s always a good idea to talk to a health care provider before taking a supplement.
Then theres the cost. Brain supplements can set you back as much as $50 a month or more. Better to save your money and focus instead on more proven measures, like getting regular exercise, doing mentally stimulating activities, and controlling blood pressure.
Now that’s advice worth remembering.
Helping you be a healthy skeptic, I’m Robert Davis.