Brain Supplements, Memory Loss and Dementia: What Is and Is Not Claimed

First: memory changes need a clinician

If your memory or thinking is changing, or you are worried about someone else, see a doctor first. The NHS says to see a GP if memory problems keep happening and not to try to self-diagnose the cause. [1] Memory problems do not necessarily mean dementia: depression, anxiety, an underactive thyroid and medicine side effects can be causes. [2] The NIA lists signs worth a visit, such as asking the same questions over and over again. [3] Treatable causes are easier to find early. See forgetfulness and memory loss and mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

The short answer

Under the FDA's rules, a supplement sold with a claim that it treats, prevents or cures a disease such as dementia would be regulated as a drug. No vitamin or supplement has been proven to prevent Alzheimer's in people, and none is recommended by the NIA for preventing cognitive decline. [4] Marketing often uses softer wording about "memory support". This page explains the difference. It is information only, and covers US rules unless stated.

What labels are and are not allowed to claim (US)

• Disease claims. The FDA says a product sold as a dietary supplement and represented, explicitly or implicitly, for treatment, prevention or cure of a specific disease meets the definition of a drug. [5] Alzheimer's disease and dementia are diseases, so wording about treating or preventing them would appear to fall under that rule.
• Structure/function claims. These describe the role of an ingredient in affecting the structure or function of the body. [5] They come with the required statement that the FDA has not evaluated the claim and that the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. [5]
• Health claims. These link a food substance to reduced risk of a disease, and the FDA authorizes them based on an extensive review of the scientific literature. [6] The FDA pages we read do not list a dementia claim. We did not read the complete list of authorized claims, so we cannot say whether any exists.
• No pre-approval. The FDA is not authorized to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed. [7] It often does not know when new products reach the market. [5]
• Advertising. The FTC regulates the advertising of dietary supplements. [7]

So the line "this statement has not been evaluated" is a legal disclaimer, not a finding that the product works. For real cases, see FTC and FDA actions on brain supplement claims, Prevagen and memory supplement claims and how nootropics are regulated in the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia. Rules outside the US are not described in the sources read for this page.

What research and health bodies found

Evidence labels: no good evidence of benefit, insufficient evidence, promising but limited, mixed.

Treatment is a separate matter. The NHS says there is no cure for dementia at the moment. [14] The NIA says there is no standard treatment or approved medication for MCI, and that in many cases MCI symptoms stay the same or even improve. [15] Not everyone with MCI develops dementia, though an estimated 10 to 20% of people aged 65 or older with MCI do over one year. [15] That variation is one reason claims based on before-and-after stories are unreliable; the healthy adults vs clinical groups page explains why group matters.

A marketed ingredient shown by consistent, good-quality trials to slow memory loss in people with a diagnosed condition: Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We searched NIA, NCCIH, NHS, MedlinePlus, FDA and PubMed for trials and reviews. Our guideline-style summary is on supplements for MCI and dementia prevention.

What a diagnosis involves

Doctors may use tests of memory, problem solving, attention, counting and language, plus other tests to rule out other causes. [17] Cognitive tests alone can't diagnose dementia. [18] Blood tests alone should not be used to diagnose dementia at present. [17] Supplement quizzes or "memory scores" on a website are not a diagnosis.