Doctor Reviews: Youthful Brain

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Youthful Brain is promoted as a cognitive enhancement supplement, developed by an individual named Sam Walters. While the name itself may not mean much to many, the claims behind Youthful Brain are ambitious, suggesting noticeable boosts in brain function. So, let’s dive into the details to determine if this supplement genuinely delivers on these promises.

Ingredients of Youthful Brain

Youthful Brain contains a blend of ingredients that are said to support cognitive health.

Each serving size is two capsules, so we’ll break down the contents to see if each ingredient is provided in a dose that could be effective. The goal here is to assess the scientific backing of these components: do they truly support cognitive performance in both healthy individuals and those who may already experience some level of cognitive decline?

Vitamin B12

B vitamins, particularly B12, are essential for brain health and development. However, research consistently shows that taking B vitamin supplements has minimal impact on cognitive performance. For instance, in older adults without cognitive issues, daily B12 supplementation for up to two years doesn’t lead to better cognitive test results. It also doesn’t seem to enhance neurological functions, like hand strength or walking ability.

Even among older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, supplementing with B12 (often combined with other B vitamins) has shown no significant improvement in cognitive performance. While B12 may help cardiovascular health in those with low B12 levels, it doesn’t appear to influence cognitive health or function.

Additionally, a similar supplement combining B vitamins, bacopa, and gingko biloba—taken twice daily over 12 weeks—showed no improvement in memory, attention, cognition, or mood in adults. Ultimately, research suggests that the idea of B12 supplements enhancing memory or focus is largely a myth, with little evidence supporting their effect on cognitive function.

Bacopa

Bacopa, a herb often used in Ayurvedic medicine, does show some potential for enhancing cognitive function, especially in healthy adults. Studies suggest that taking 300–600 mg of bacopa daily for at least 12 weeks may improve certain cognitive measures. However, it hasn’t demonstrated similar benefits for individuals with cognitive or neurological issues.

In a study of patients with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment, taking bacopa daily for a year didn’t yield any notable improvements in cognitive function or memory. Similarly, a study on older adults with Parkinson’s disease found that taking bacopa extract daily for 90 days had no impact on symptoms, emotional health, or social outcomes compared to a placebo.

It’s also important to note that the effective doses observed in these studies tend to be in the hundreds of milligrams per day, which is likely more than what Youthful Brain provides.

Gingko biloba

Ginkgo biloba, a staple in traditional Chinese medicine, has shown mixed results when it comes to cognitive enhancement in healthy adults. Some studies suggest that taking ginkgo leaf extract daily for up to 12 weeks may lead to slight improvements in memory and attention. Typically, these studies use a standardized extract, such as EGb 761, at a dose of around 240 mg daily over a 4- to 24-week period to achieve these effects. However, not all research aligns; some studies report no significant impact on cognitive performance for healthy individuals.

Where ginkgo appears to shine is with individuals experiencing cognitive issues, such as dementia. Meta-analyses of clinical studies in dementia patients indicate that a daily dose of ginkgo can modestly improve cognition and daily functioning compared to a placebo. Ginkgo may be particularly helpful for vascular dementia, where it has been shown to enhance cognitive function scores. In Alzheimer’s patients, ginkgo may support cognitive improvement, although it does not slow disease progression.

These studies generally use standardized extracts like GK501 or EGb 761 at doses of 240–360 mg. Youthful Brain, however, uses a generic ginkgo extract in a dose likely too low to replicate these benefits.

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine, a type of fat crucial for nerve cell development, is another key ingredient. This compound, once derived primarily from animal sources like cow brains, is now more often sourced from plants such as soy or cabbage. Research on animal-derived phosphatidylserine indicates it can enhance attention, alertness, verbal fluency, and memory in individuals with age-related cognitive decline. Interestingly, plant-based phosphatidylserine has demonstrated similar benefits.

The most promising results for phosphatidylserine appear in people with mild cognitive impairment. For instance, Alzheimer’s patients who took phosphatidylserine for 6–12 weeks saw improvements in cognitive function and certain behavioral symptoms, though the effects were most pronounced in those with milder symptoms. However, it’s important to note that while phosphatidylserine may offer temporary cognitive boosts, especially in early stages, it doesn’t halt Alzheimer’s progression, and its benefits often start to diminish after about 16 weeks of use.

When it comes to cognitive benefits for healthy individuals, the evidence supporting phosphatidylserine is limited. Additionally, most clinical studies that find positive effects use a dose of around 300 mg daily, which is significantly more than what Youthful Brain offers.

Huperzine A

Huperzine A, derived from plants like Chinese club moss, functions as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. This means it blocks the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine, a vital brain chemical linked to memory and attention. By preventing this breakdown, Huperzine A raises acetylcholine levels, which could, in turn, enhance cognitive functions.

In studies on Alzheimer’s disease, Huperzine A has shown promise, with results indicating improvements in memory, cognitive function, and behavior. However, for healthy adults without Alzheimer’s, Huperzine A appears to have little or no impact on cognition. In general, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like Huperzine A offer minimal cognitive benefits for individuals without underlying cognitive issues.

Is Youthful Brain effective?

In summary, Youthful Brain is unlikely to significantly improve cognitive performance for healthy adults.

While it does contain ingredients that have been studied for cognitive health, most of these ingredients show benefits primarily for people with conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s. Research shows that these ingredients have weak or negligible effects on healthy individuals. Furthermore, Youthful Brain includes most of its ingredients in doses too low to be effective, with the possible exceptions of vitamin B12 and Huperzine A.

Overall ratings

Rating Youthful Brain by effectiveness for cognition, I’m giving it a D. Although it has some ingredients that may help with cognitive impairment, it contains them at doses too low to do much. It’s also not going to do much if you don’t suffer from cognitive problems.

Rating it by cost, I’m giving it a D. You can get the same functional benefits at a far cheaper price by just using generic ingredients.

Rating it for safety, I’m giving it a C. There are a number of ingredients that have the potential to interfere with mood medications.

Overall rating, I’m giving a D. I would not recommend it at all.

Top alternatives to Youthful Brain

• Huperzine A – 1 to 2 caps / day
• Vitamin B12 – 1 cap / day

Learn more about

• Supplement reviews

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