Cognitive Enhancement
Nutrients connected to Cognitive Enhancement
A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.
- L-theaninePreliminary or mixed
Small trials in healthy adults suggest a quicker response on some attention tests after a single dose; results are not consistent across tests.
- Caffeine supplementsClinically supported
Caffeine is the best-studied ingredient in this group for short-term attention in healthy adults. The effect is narrow and short-lived, and the label 'enhancement' should not be read as more than that.
- Caffeine plus L-theanine and brain formulasPreliminary or mixed
Small, short-term gains on some attention tests in healthy people; the word 'enhancement' overstates what trials show.
- Citicoline and alpha-GPCPreliminary or mixed
Marketed as cognitive enhancers. Small or low-quality trials, mostly in patients, give limited and mixed results.
- Bacopa monnieriPreliminary or mixed
Some memory and attention test gains in healthy adults, but small, short and inconsistent studies; certainty is low.
- RosemaryPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of oral rosemary (68 students, 77 people with COPD) reported better memory or thinking scores; they were small and short, so the evidence is limited.
- Oat straw (milky oats)Preliminary or mixed
Small trials of branded extracts show some gains; a 12-week older-adult trial showed none.
- Multi-Ingredient Brain FormulasPreliminary or mixed
Claimed by formulas; reviews found some evidence for a few ingredients and none compelling for many others.
- TyrosinePreliminary or mixed
A 2015 review found tyrosine may improve thinking only in short-term stress or high mental demand; a stricter assessment gave a weak recommendation and called evidence insufficient.
- PhosphatidylserinePreliminary or mixed
Marketed as a memory ingredient; trial results are mixed and a 2026 review does not support PS as a proven cognitive enhancer in mental disorders.
- Botanical and mushroom nootropicsPreliminary or mixed
The marketing claim; only bacopa shows some small test-score gains in adults without dementia, and ginkgo prevention trials were negative.
- SagePreliminary or mixed
One small study in 20 healthy older adults found better memory and attention after a single amount of a standardised extract. Evidence is limited.
- Asian ginsengPreliminary or mixed
Small research suggests benefit in middle-aged adults only.
- GuaranaPreliminary or mixed
Small effect on response time only.
- Lion's manePreliminary or mixed
Small trials in older adults with mild cognitive impairment reported higher test scores than placebo; trials in healthy young adults were mixed. Products and trials differ, so this is promising but limited.
- GuayusaPreliminary or mixed
Mixed, short-term task results in two small manufacturer-funded trials.
- Malkangani (intellect tree)Lab or animal research only
Malkangani seed oil improved memory in rats with a drug-induced deficit. No published human results were found, so benefit in people is not shown.
- Perilla (shiso)Preliminary or mixed
One trial of a standardized leaf extract in cognitive impairment; needs replication.
- Guayusa TeaPreliminary or mixed
Some task gains in a 40-person extract trial; no effect on memory, reasoning or attention in another.
- Multivitamins for Adults Over 50Preliminary or mixed
Small memory-score gains in older adults in COSMOS; not shown to prevent cognitive decline or dementia.
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