The 4 Best Nootropic Supplements for Memory Recall and Preventing Memory Loss
The memory is a powerhouse of information. It saves countless events, incidents, conversations, names, colors and more – right from our birth – but leaves us puzzled when we start looking for our keys. Funny, eh?
So, what could be the reason? Medical experts say that it is because of forgetfulness. There are several types of forgetfulness that are differentiated based on the mechanism of the brain and its cellular functioning.
Let’s take a look at the top 3 memory loss problems prevalent among youngsters and senior citizens.
Memory Loss Problems
Doorway memory loss
Have you entered a room, but forgot why you left your couch in the first place? If you said yes, then you are suffering from a short-term memory loss problem called the ‘doorway memory loss’.
Researchers say that doorways serve as boundaries, so when you enter or exit a room, the scene changes and your brain reacts to it by forgetting the previous scene.
But this is also beneficial in some cases because when you enter a place, the brain automatically helps you to recall and remember incidents and events that had previously took place in that area.
Transience
Some people are just too good at debating but fail to recall important facts and events to support their statements. That could be embarrassing. But they are not to be blamed – they are suffering from a typical memory loss problem called Transience.
Here, the brain loses its ability to retrieve stored information over time. Hence, they are forgotten. The best solution to overcome this problem is to recall important facts and events regularly. When you do, the processing speed and accuracy of your brain will improve by a long way.
However, one surprising benefit of Transience is that, it creates more unused space in the brain and makes way for the storage of new information.
Memory loss due to brain injuries
Probably, the only instance when a person could experience memory loss even before any form of information is stored is in cases of brain injuries. The brain has a specific structure that makes it the most powerful thing that it is – it’s natural ability to store, recall, and remember remains unrivalled even by the computers. But during brain injuries, some of the areas which comprise the storage cells are damaged, and this leads to amnesia.
Like the aforementioned ones, there are several types of memory loss problems where each one is differentiated based on a number of factors such as age, health, and hereditary. But, here are some easy and effective ways to overcome memory loss:
Ways to fight memory loss:
- Cardiovascular exercises – help increase oxygen supply to the brain; strengthens the hippocampus which is directly linked to learning and verbal memory.
- Diet – Taking brain foods such as Avocado, Nuts, herbs, Fish Oil, and Broccoli can provide your brain cells with the essential nutrients, which is hard to derive by artificial means.
- Yoga and meditation – lower your stress levels and thus improves concentration.
- Brain Supplements like nootropics – Help improve short-term and long-term memory by stimulating the activity of important neurotransmitters that are related to controlling the recalling, remembering, and logical thinking of a person. Also, they possess powerful neuroprotective properties, which means they have a natural ability to promote the growth of new brain cells. More on the nootropics below.
Experimenting with a number of different nootropics combinations to find the perfect blend can, let’s face it, be a pain in the a*s.
Today we’ll take some of the pain out of your search by highlighting three of the most effective smart drugs for memory improvement.
If you need to study for an exam, or need to work all night putting together and remembering a presentation at work, or just want a temporary boost to your recall, then check out the three nootropics we’ve got for you below.
All these supplements are nootropics, i.e. they cognitive enhancement capabilities without any major side effects and an extremely low level of toxicity in the body.
Best 4 Nootropics for Better Memory Recall
Alpha GPC
Alpha-GPC (L-Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine) is a chemical compound found naturally in many foods such as soy beans and certain plants and vegetables.
In some countries, especially in Europe, Alpha GPC is prescribed by doctors to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s. It’s also been used to treat dementia, stroke and “mini-stroke”.
Alpha GPC works by increasing supplies of acetylcholine in the brain. Acetylcholine is a neurostransmitter found in the nervous system; it helps activate muscles and also improves sensory functions and ability to sustain attention.
In fact some forms of learning and ‘brain plasticity’ are highly dependent on the presence of acetylcholine in the central nervous system.
Read more: 16 Experts Reveal the Best Supplements to Improve Memory
A meta-analysis which looked at 13 scientific studies has found Alpha GPC to be effective at improving performance in attention and memory tests. The total number of patients tested across all 13 studies was well over 4,000 and the test periods ranged anywhere between 3 to 6 months.
All the studies done linked Alpha GPC supplementation to memory improvement. In one study performed over 20 patients vs a plcebo control group, the researchers found that Alpha GPC caused an average 16% improvement in memory test scores.
Idebenone
Idebenone is a synthetic version of an important natural enzyme called Coenzyme Q10 (aka CoQ10). CoQ10 is important for maintaining the mitochondria – the “power plants” of the cells. In fact it is so instrumental in powering cell activity that without a healthy supply of CoQ10 (or a good substitute) you would not be able to survive!
CoQ10 has a negative side to it though. It needs a constant supply of oxygen. Whenever oxygen levels within a specific part of the body fall dangerously low (for example during a stroke, heart attack or trauma), CoQ10 breaks down or ‘auto-oxidises’.
This in turn releases highly damaging free radicals into your body, these free radicals can destroy and damage cell and organ structure.
Idebenone, on the other hand, does not carry this negative effect. Idebenone has all the positive effects of CoQ10 but it does not break down into free radicals under low-oxygen conditions. It’s also been shown to help with anti-aging, cognition and memory, energy enhancement and organ protection.
A study conducted on laboratory rats has shown that Idebenone has a significant impact on reversing amnesia when administered orally.
Another study conducted by the Russian State Medical University found that “neuropsychological investigations demonstrated improvements in short-term and long-term memory and attention” and also that “significant improvements in patients’ conditions were seen in patients with mild and moderate dementia.”
Nootropics fans who are using it for brain enhancing functions will typically start off with a dose of 500mg – 1000mg per day and then adjust from there. Be warned though, in some users it has been seen to induce anxiety and/or insomnia.
Learn more: How To Improve Your Memory With Nootropics
Oxiracetam
Oxiracetam is part of the racetam group of Nootropics, derived from the daddy of all nootropics Piracetam. Oxiracetam has a positive effect on many areas of brain functioning through its ability to activate the glutamate receptor.
It does this by modulating levels of two important neurotransmitters in the nervous system: acetylcholine and glutamate. It’s been tested in animal and human trials extensively but it’s still unclear exactly how it does this.
One of the main benefits of Oxiracetam is its effect on memory. It has been shown to improve not only memory capacity but also recall.
It’s also been shown to improve focus, alertness and mood, without some of the common side effects of other racetams such as anxiety and jitteriness.
Research done at the Department of Neurology at the University of Milan showed that Oxiracetam had a ‘statistically significant’ positive effect on recall, semantic memory and attention when dosed at 1600mg.
Another study performed on test rats compared the effects of Oxiracetam to Piracetam and found Oxiracetam to have a better effect on memory and information retention.
Bacopa
Bacopa comes from the plant commonly known as Water Hyssop, or scientifically called Bacopa Monnieri. The plant is found naturally in tropical environments and is often used in aquariums.
It’s been used for hundreds of years as a natural supplement to boost memory, but recent new research that has confirmed its efficacy as a memory enhancing substance has brought Bacopa into more widespread use.
In 2006 a study was performed by the Indian Journal of Psychiatry. The study was double-blind randomized and run over a period of 16 weeks, using patients that were suffering from age related memory impairment (but not suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia).
The patients would be forgetful with everyday things such as remembering where they put things or remembering telephone numbers. The study found that the placebo group and the Bacopa supplemented group improved in memory, but the Bacopa group improved much more than the placebo group – enough to be significant.
A more recent study in 2010 in Australia had similarly positive results testing patients with Bacopa. Their patients were healthy but elderly. No studies have been conducted as of yet on healthy younger patients, but the majority of studies on elderly patients seem to conclude the same thing: Bacopa is highly effective for improving memory.
Bonus: READER’S CHOICES
Now, I’m taking a different approach here. Unlike what you find in other sites, which is more of the writer’s personal choice, here I’m listing out the top memory boosting nootropics as voted by our readers after they had experienced the effects themselves. Here you go…
1) MODAFINIL
First on our list is Modafinil. 42% of our readers have voted it as their number one brain supplement. Let’s explore the reason.
The history…
I’m sure you’d like a bit of context. Read on.
In the early 70’s, French chemist Michel Jouvet decided to formulate a drug that could treat narcolepsy and a range of sleeping disorders and also improve cognitive functioning without injecting harmful side effects in the user.
Not a long story, huh?
By the way, that’s how Modafinil was born. Years later, its effects were widely observed by users worldwide, and it even got its name in the league of FDA-approved brain drugs. Modafinil’s hardcore benefits include wakefulness, increased concentration and focus, mood enhancement, and cognitive fluency.
Our reader and freelance article writer Mary uses Modafinil to up her productivity scale in the night when dealing with tight deadlines.
Entrepreneur Mark Bennett, a busy man, takes this drug to avoid the side effects of jet lag while giving presentations, and interestingly college student Nick pops in the ‘white pill’ to drive home safely when he is overly drunk.
For an in-depth look at Modafinil’s effects and benefits, check out my review here.
2) NOOPEPT
I always believe, a great brain supplement should be like a vacation to the Hawaii islands. It should energize your neurons, refresh your brain with fresh oxygen supply, and free your brain from distractions.
Great news is: that’s exactly what Noopept does.
People use this supplement to increase their productivity at work, stay focused on their tasks, recall numbers and incidents better, improve mental energy when they are exhausted after long working hours, and to improve the overall efficiency of the brain.
As an added bonus, it also protects your brain from physical and chemical injuries.
Pretty cool, huh?
Talk about potency, Noopept is right up there at the top. It is almost 1000 times powerful than the oldest nootropic supplement called Piracetam.
Laboratory tests on animals revealed that Noopept minimized amnesia caused by mild electrical shocks. It also has the power to cure early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. How good is that for a supplement?
Wait, the benefits don’t end there. Noopept is also one of the rarest brain supplements capable of accelerating neuron growth cycle, which is medically termed as neuroplasticity.
It increases long-term cognitive functioning, which means you will experience positive effects even after you have stopped using the drug.
Scott, an IT programmer, takes 20mg Noopept powder in the morning and evening, and says he feels intense effect in minutes once the drug kicks in.
It’s not a recommended supplement, rather it’s a required supplement for anyone who likes to round off a productive day without a hitch.
However, Scott advices users never to take Noopept before bed because it can cause hyperactive effects. The best time to down a dosage of Noopept powder is in the morning after a healthy breakfast.
Noopept is pretty cheap, especially considering its low dose. To pick up some of your own, go here.
3) ANIRACETAM
Number 3 on our list is Aniracetam. It is, by far, one of the best ever nootropics for energy and motivation. It has an excellent track record of making a number of procrastinators into productive ninjas including Silicon valley professionals.
It works by accelerating the neuron communication and promoting better neurotransmitter signals to the CNS and PNS. Cody says, the moment it starts working, you can actually feel the effect – it gets your focus curve up and makes you get to the paper.
Because of its transparent effects, it’s also thought of as the best nootropics for social anxiety. A number of people are using Aniracetam to overcome the nightmares of stage fear – in college cultural days, music competitions, and even public speaking (Oxiracetam does too).
Through multiple studies, it has been shown that regular use of Aniracetam promotes the release of dopamine and acetylcholine in the cerebral space, causing long-term cognitive benefits.
John is an artist and painter and is overly delighted about his experience with Aniracetam. He is able to stay focused and be less bothered about the noise, which was a constant problem previously.
Daniel is a public speaker and he uses Aniracetam to stave off anxiety, which is a common feeling for anyone who is delivering a lecture in front of hundreds of people.
Grab some of your own Aniracetam here (note: it’s usually limited in stock in most online nootropics stores – read more on where to buy here).
CONCLUSION
That’s it from us, folks! The top three nootropics as voted by Corpina readers.
We’d love to hear your success story with nootropics soon.
Until then, take care. Cheers!