Brain Boosting Supplements Are Hot. But Do Any of Them Actually Work?

Americans are now spending billions a year on brain-health boosters with names like Magic Mind, Alpha Brain, and Brain Guard+, and the good news is that some of these supplements, also known as nootropics, actually kind of work. CurcuminThis molecule, found in the spice turmeric, substantially improved working memory and moderately improved brain processing speed, according to a new study review by researchers in China. A 2024 meta-analysis showed that creatine improved memory, likely by increasing levels of phosphocreatine, which supplies energy to brain cells. Citicoline is a compound that your brain uses to build phosphatidylserine, the fat in brain cell membranes mentioned earlier. Ginkgo bilobaThis supplement became a blockbuster in the early aughts after small studies suggested it could improve memory.