The cognitive health market is a large one, and with all large supplement markets, there are plenty of ingredients that make big claims but are short on evidence. That’s why researchers at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague performed a literature review in 2022 to assess nootropic compounds’ efficacy.
This literature review found that while most nootropic substances don’t have an effect after just a single dose, they are, for the most part, safe for human consumption for at least short periods of time. This review also found that Ginkgo biloba can significantly improve working memory and information processing speed, while animal studies of Bacopa monnieri have shown that the herb has neuroprotective properties. Other herbs studied in the literature review, like eleuthero and Rhodiola, have been found to improve memory or reduce anxiety.
The full study can be read in the August 2022 issue of Nutrients ( volume 14, issue 16).
