Best Memory Supplements to Buy in 2024

Memory and optimal cognitive function is fundamental to your quality of life in 2024. Something as simple as remembering where you left your keys. To recalling a loved one’s birthday or doing well on your next exam or board presentation.

Neuroscience has now discovered how memory works in your brain all the way down to the central nervous system and your molecular level.

And this new information has empowered us as neurohackers to be able to choose the best nootropics that work for improving memory and brain fog.

For example, researchers in Japan conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 36 children aged 4 – 14 years. The kids were diagnosed ADHD but had not received any conventional ADHD treatment prior to the trial.

The kids received 300 mg of Phosphatidylserine (PS) or a placebo daily for 2 months. The team recorded the children’s ADHD symptoms, short-term memory and working memory, and mental performance.

Researchers found that Phosphatidylserine (PS) significantly improved ADHD symptoms and short-term memory.

ADHD symptoms that improved were inattention, short-term memory problems, and impulsivity. The placebo group experienced no improvement during the trial.[i]

That’s just one example of hundreds of clinical trials conducted for the memory-improving nootropic supplements included in this post.

You can be sure that using one of the many brain supplements from the following list will have a positive impact on your memory and brain function.

But use all of them daily for a month and you’ll be amazed at how much you can improve brain health and memory.

Best Memory Supplements for Healthy Brain Function

Below, we will discuss the best brain health supplements you can take to improve cognitive function. Your brain cells will thank you. Of course, while reading about these brain boosting supplements, take in how they benefit the rest of your body as well.

CDP-Choline

CDP-Choline (Citicoline, Cognizin^®) – enhances the release of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine (ACh).[ii] Dopamine and norepinephrine are directly involved in attention, alertness, focus, learning and memory.

And acetylcholine and its receptors are required for the encoding of new memories. By modulating synapses, regulating theta brain waves, and enhancing long-term potentiation (LTP).
[iii]

Acetylcholine also stimulates astrocyte cells which are induced to release glutamate. This process in your hippocampus is another reason acetylcholine (ACh) helps boost memory.[iv]

Peer-reviewed study[v] after study[vi] supports our personal experience that CDP-Choline helps improve memory.

Bacopa Monnieri

Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) – Ancient Ayurvedic texts recommended Bacopa to devotees to help memorize long passages of text.

The bacosides A and B in Bacopa help improve signaling between neurons in your brain. Resulting in better word recall, attention, memory, increased focus while learning, and less anxiety and lower heart rate.
[vii]

Bacopa also helps protect your brain from heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) during periods of chronic stress. Making you less susceptible to the memory loss associated with stress.[viii]

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) – is extremely effective at promoting Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) synthesis and neurite outgrowth in your brain.[ix]

Stimulating the repair and creation of neurons with Lion’s Mane helps boost neurotransmitters and brain cell signaling that help memory, learning, recall, and mood.

L-Theanine

L-Theanine – is a non-dietary amino acid found in tea with particularly high levels found in green tea (camellia sinensis).

L-Theanine is one of the very few nootropics known to modulate brain waves. It affects alpha and theta brain waves which are associated with cognitive alertness and creativity.

Providing an alert calmness, L-Theanine helps in promoting super-learning and memory, flow states and joy.[x]

L-Theanine also boosts the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and GABA in your brain. As well as increasing the synthesis of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF).[xi]

Boosting the levels of these amino acids and growth factors, L-Theanine is a powerful way to tame anxiety and stress, and boost memory.

What is the Difference between Amino Acids and Fatty Acids?

If you’re anything like me when I started out with nootropics, at first I didn’t understand the differences between an amino acid and omega 3 fatty acids. So, I want to do a quick mention that both are important to sustain life forms. An amino acid is the building block of proteins in nature and fatty acids are the building blocks of the fats in nature.

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT)

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT) – is a highly bioavailable form of the amino acid L-Tyrosine.
Your brain converts L-Tyrosine into L-DOPA. And the decarboxylation of L-DOPA results in the synthesis of dopamine.

NALT enhances working memory and executive function in the prefrontal cortex. It helps with creative flow states, is fuel for inspiration, cognitive flexibility, and the kind of “convergent thinking”
you do in multiple choice exams.

L-Tyrosine provides greater cognitive enhancement as cognitive demand increases.[xii] And is particularly effective
in boosting cognition and memory during stressful conditions.

NALT helps support cognitive flexibility which is associated with fluid intelligence, superior reading and comprehension, and a healthier brain. Meaning you can quickly adjust your thinking to adapt to novel situations and stimuli.[xiii]

NALT is especially effective if you’re using prescription stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin to treat ADHD/ADD.
Because it helps provide the extra dopamine your brain needs.

It helps smooth out and prolong the effect of stimulant meds. And helps prevent the associated crash when they wear off.

Phosphatidylserine (PS)

Phosphatidylserine (PS) – you may recall that this nootropic was mentioned in the study example you read at the very beginning of this post. And is one of the most effective memory boosters known to science and neurohackers.

PS is a phospholipid component of brain cell membranes which play a vital role in cell-to-cell signaling. And is needed to maintain the fluidity of all cell membranes.

When your brain cell membranes are healthy, they are malleable, fluid and flexible. But by the time we reach our 20’s, phospholipids including Phosphatidylserine (PS) start declining. This casing starts to harden.

And attention, concentration, memory, mood and learning begin to suffer.[xiv]

Several studies have shown that using Phosphatidylserine as a nootropic to boost memory works well with kids with ADHD/ADD, and for age-related cognitive decline as well as more serious diseases like Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.[xv]

The bottom-line, Phosphatidylserine (PS) is one of the most effect memory boosters for anyone past the age of 23.

Pine Bark Extract

Pine Bark Extract – a standardized extract of French maritime pine bark, this is one of the most potent antioxidants discovered.

Scavenging free radicals to protect neurons and other cells in your body from oxidative damage.
[xvi]

Pine Bark extract protects cell membranes from free radical damage, chelates heavy metals, restores cell membranes, and prevents their rupture and leakage. Helping to prevent stroke.[xvii]

And Pine Bark Extract also boosts cerebral circulation. Studies show it significantly boosts blood flow even in healthy young adults.[xviii] And has a remarkable effect on memory, focus, decision-making and mood.[xix]

Best Time to Take Memory Supplements

Morning is usually the best time to take supplements to support short- and working-memory during your day. It’s even better to split your total daily dose in half. With one dose in the morning, and your other dose at noon for the best health benefits.

But remember that long-term memory consolidation happens while you sleep. So good sleep is also critical for great memory.

If you need help getting to sleep, staying asleep, and waking feeling refreshed the next day, see my review on Performance Lab^® Sleep.

Are These Memory Supplements Safe?

Every memory supplement reviewed on this page is considered safe and well-tolerated by most people. Safe to use every day with no cycling required.

These truly are the most effective memory boosters experienced neurohackers use every single day. And each memory supplement is backed by dozens and dozens of peer-reviewed clinical studies supporting our real-world, practical experience.

How to Save Money on Memory Supplements

You may have found as I have that memory enhancing supplements can be expensive. Especially if you want to try all the nootropics reviewed in this post.

But how valuable is better memory to you? Can it genuinely improve your quality of life? If you’re able to easily remember names of people you just met. Or recall important dates like birthdays and anniversaries.

You’d find it easier writing your next exam or breezing through your next board presentation.

Good memory affects nearly every area of your life. So supporting learning and recall is an easily justifiable investment in your health.

Each of the memory supplements in this post can help boost your memory. Taken individually as single supplements.

For even a more profound improvement in memory, try taking them together as a single stack.

And if you want to reduce the number of capsules you’re taking, and save some money, you can use a pre-formulated memory supplement that contains all the ingredients reviewed above.

I recommend the pre-made stack I’ve been using every day for the last 6 years called Mind Lab Pro^®.

Mind Lab Pro^® contains therapeutic levels of each ingredient reviewed above as well as Rhodiola Rosea and Vitamins B₆, B₉ and B₁₂.

Or you can try Performance Lab^® Mind which is made by the sister company to Mind Lab Pro. This stack also contains the right amount of each nootropic supplement
described in this post to support your memory.

Performance Lab^® Mind will be more effective if used with a multivitamin like Performance Lab^® NutriGenesis Multi for men
or women. Because your brain will use these vitamins and minerals to support the memory supplements in Mind.

If you want a better and more productive 2024, make an investment in some memory supplements today. But do it now before you forget!

Get Mind Lab Pro^®

Get Performance Lab^® Mind

Get Performance Lab^® NutriGenesis Multi

Get Performance Lab^® Sleep