What do gamers, workers, athletes, toddlers, and seniors have in common? No matter the age or demographic, a healthy, well-functioning brain is an important priority. According to the World Health Organization, brain health is the “state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral, and motor domains”—and as such, is essential to helping every human being realize their potential over the course of their life.
Even so, each demographic group may be concerned about different aspects of cognition at different stages of life, whether it’s memory, focus, mental performance, or development, notes one expert.
“Consumers’ brain health priorities tend to change as they age. In the first thousand days of an infant’s life, for example, nutrition plays a vital role in brain growth and development. Adequate nutrition at this early stage is crucial in ensuring future cognitive well-being,” Matthew Kochem, manager, Science Translation & Advocacy, DSM, explains. “With children and teenagers, education is key for raising levels of ‘cognitive reserve,’ with studies suggesting a link between education levels and dementia cases later in life,” he adds. “Fast forward to young adults where mood, stress, and anxiety often top consumers’ cognitive priorities.”
Kochem, a PhD in nutritional sciences with experience in clinical nutrition research, adds that some aspects of cognitive abilities gradually deteriorate as part of the normal aging process, which makes preventing or reducing cognitive decline a primary focus for older adults.
“Declining mental functions include memory loss, processing speed, and multitasking abilities,” he says.
Today, food and beverage manufacturers can find a number of brain health ingredients that support creating products that address consumers’ cognitive concerns, including increased focus and healthy brain development to protection from cognitive decline—in other words, products that are literally “food for thought.”
Omega-3 fatty acids are among the most well-known brain health–boosting ingredients, affecting brain development and cognitive function as humans age. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the omega-3 derived from fish or algae, is abundant in the brain and has been shown to have neuroprotective properties and supports myriad neurological functions as humans age, from cognitive development in early life to cognitive retention later in life. In addition, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid found along with DHA in cold water fish oils, is associated with reducing inflammation and reducing triglycerides in the blood.
There is good evidence from observational studies for an association between DHA and slower cognitive decline or reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Troesch et al. 2020). Intervention trials are less clear, but there is some evidence that DHA and EPA can prevent or slow cognitive decline, particularly in the early stages. In a separate meta-analysis, Alex et al. (2020) found that existing literature suggests that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation could provide a mild benefit in improving memory function in non-demented older adults.
There are a variety of products on the market that utilize omega-3 fatty acids targeting different ages and their cognitive concerns, such as the use of DHA in infant formula and toddler foods to help support brain development. In June, GoGo squeeZ, maker of squeezable and portable snacks in a pouch, expanded its portfolio with Happy BrainZ, a mixture of apple, banana, pineapple, and orange, 800 mg alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and 32 mg DHA omega-3, along with 4 g of plant-based prebiotic fiber.
In addition, a medical food in the form of softgels and jelly chews (EQUAZEN PRO, SFI Health) was recently released in the U.S. market. EQUAZEN PRO is a no-prescription-needed nutrition solution for the dietary management of ADHD symptoms. Backed by 15 years of research and 19 published clinical studies, including six clinical trials among kids and teens with ADHD, EQUAZEN PRO has been shown to help improve focus and academic performance within 12 weeks. It works by providing an optimal balance of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid, helping address fatty acid imbalances common in many people with ADHD.
B vitamins also influence brain health and development. Deficiencies in thiamin, niacin, folate, and cobalamin are associated with a host of cognitive impairments, including memory loss, reduced alertness and concentration, lethargy, fatigue, and mood disturbances. B vitamins also have been shown to slow cognitive decline.
Choline plays critical roles in neurotransmitter synthesis, brain cell structure, and fetal brain development. The importance of adequate choline intake during pregnancy is important for an infant’s brain. Earlier this year, research at Cornell University reinforced the need for increased choline supplementation during pregnancy, confirming the critical role choline plays in infant cognitive development. Bahnfleth et al. (2021) found that doubling recommended prenatal choline significantly improved childhood brain performance.
The new research showed that pregnant women who took more than twice the recommended dose of choline (VitaCholine, Balchem) during pregnancy gave birth to children who demonstrated significant cognitive benefits through early childhood. According to the researchers, even after seven years and without additional choline supplementation, the children who were given the higher choline dosage (930 mg) before birth maintained a significant cognitive performance advantage over the children in the lower dose (480 mg) group.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential cofactor required for proper functioning of all cells, and its decline in the brain is correlated with advancing age and disease. Xue et al. (2022) assessed the efficacy and safety of a combined NAD+ with its D-ribose (RiaGev, Bioenergy Life Science) for NAD metabolome enhancement and related benefits in healthy middle-aged adults. Supplementing with 1520 mg RiaGev twice daily for seven days significantly increased the NAD+ metabolome in blood, compared to the placebo group and over the baseline. Increases in glutathione and high energy phosphates were also observed in the blood. Subjects in the RiaGev group showed less fatigue, improved mental concentration, and motivation over the baseline.
Citicoline, which affects neurotransmitter levels, is thought to protect the nervous system from oxidative and age-related damage, and is a precursor to the phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine. A proprietary form of citicoline (Cognizin, Kyowa Hakko) has been clinically studied to support mental energy, focus, attention, and recall.
Nakazaki et al. (2021) demonstrated that supplementation of Cognizin citicoline helped improve overall memory performance in healthy elderly populations with age-associated memory impairment, specifically episodic memory. Participants were randomized to receive either a 500 mg/day dosage of citicoline or a placebo, with memory functions assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention (12 weeks) using standardized computerized tests. The study also suggested that regular consumption of citicoline may be safe and potentially beneficial against memory loss due to aging.
Phospholipids are present in brain cell membranes and provide protection for neurons. Last year, AIDP partnered with Lipogen to expand its ingredient portfolio with CogniPLUS, a proprietary branded complex of phospholipids including phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid. CogniPS (phosphatidylserine) and CogniPA (phosphatidic acid) are synergistic lipid complexes specifically formulated for cognition support and performance. CogniPLUS is supported by two human clinical studies for cognitive support. Participants recorded higher memory, learning, association, and information gathering scores after three months (Moré et al. 2014).
In addition to potential cognitive benefits, botanical extracts also meet plant-based, clean label trends in foods and beverages. Recent studies have shown that several botanical extracts hold promise in improving or maintaining brain health, including:
• Bacopa monnieri. This plant is used in Ayurvedic medicine for memory and cognition. AIDP offers BacoMind, a patented, clinically tested, memory- and cognition-enhancing full spectrum extract with nine bioactives. It has U.S. Food and Drug Administration Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status and can be used as a food ingredient in beverages, candies, and bakery products at levels of 50 mg per serving. Four published clinical studies support its benefits in boosting memory, learning, and attention in adults and children.
In addition, PLT Health offers a standardized form of Bacopa monnieri, Synapsa. In six double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies, healthy adults using Synapsa showed significantly improved performance in areas such as visual processing, learning rate, working memory, information retention, and mental performance in cognitively demanding environments.
• Sceletium tortuosum. The extract from this South African–grown plant is well known for its anxiety-inhibiting and stress-relieving properties. One patented, standardized, and clinically studied extract (Zembrin, PLT Health) of this plant is designed to support calmness, enhanced mood, and improved cognitive function. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, subjects took either 25 mg of the supplement or a matching placebo capsule once daily for three weeks. Positive cognitive, mood, and sleep changes were found in the Zembrin group compared to the placebo group.
• Guayusa extract. Targeted for gamers, workers, and athletes, AmaTea Max (Applied Food Sciences) is an organic guayusa extract designed to provide energized performance with more focus and fewer jitters. The company’s patented process enhances the naturally occurring antioxidants and caffeine from guayusa for a nootropic focused energy with no increase in jitters compared to other forms of caffeine. The extract provides 20% caffeine, 30% chlorogenic acids, and additional polyphenols.
Bloomer et al. (2022) recently studied gamers who consumed the dietary supplement to determine the effects on jitters, cognitive actions, reaction time, and gaming performance throughout four hours of gameplay. One of the most substantial outcomes of the gaming study was that active gamers using AmaTea Max revealed no increase in jitters after one hour of gameplay. Comparatively, gamers using synthetic caffeine noted a statistically significant rise in jittery sensations. Results also showed that 55% of the participants using guayusa extract supplement preserved more focus and were the only group to see an increase in performance after four hours of gameplay. Additionally, around two-thirds of the subjects showed improvement in reaction time.
• Thai ginger. In a study to be published later this year, a caffeine-alternative energy supplement made from a proprietary extract of DNA-authenticated Alpinia galanga, or Thai ginger (enXtra, OmniActive Health) was recently shown to have an effect on mental alertness (OmniActive Health 2022).
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involved 62 subjects. The overall goal of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of enXtra on mental alertness and fatigue after a single serving of 300 mg/day. Consumption of the Thai ginger extract resulted in a quick increase in mental alertness, which was sustained through a 5 hr time period. Similarly, scores for attention and focus were greater in the group receiving enXtra, with benefits for attention measured as early as 30 min.
1. Understand the importance of brain health for all ages and demographics.
2. Discover why omega-3 fatty acids are mainstream brain health ingredients utilized in a variety of products for children and adults.
3. Learn how botanicals offer solutions for plant-based brain health benefits.