Prevagen Review
Prevagen distinguishes itself from other nootropic supplements we assess here at SOMA, which primarily cater to students and young professionals, as it targets an older demographic. Prevagen is marketed towards individuals concerned about memory loss, a prevalent issue among older generations in light of the rise in cases of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
As we age, our bodies endure longer, but our minds must keep pace, and Prevagen purportedly offers a solution. This Prevagen review will delve into the variety of Prevagen products available, their potential advantages, the ingredients utilized, our personal experience with the supplement, and ultimately, our conclusion.
Let’s commence the analysis.
What Is Prevagen?
Prevagen sets itself apart from the multitude of nootropics we’ve scrutinized, presenting an entirely novel approach. What distinguishes it is the utilization of a unique active component, apoaequorin, alongside Vitamin D, its sole other ingredient. Prevagen’s reliance on apoaequorin as its primary memory-enhancing agent demonstrates the company’s confidence in its effectiveness.
Prevage Product Range
The Prevagen line-up may be classified into three primary categories:
Prevagen Regular Strength
As the foundation of Prevagen’s offerings, the Regular Strength variant is available in different flavors, including mixed berry, orange, or unflavored, with box sizes of 30 or 60 capsules. Our expert advice is to commence with the Regular Strength formula and select a flavor that suits your preferences.
Prevagen Extra Strength
For those seeking a more potent boost, Prevagen Extra Strength capsules provide double the dosage (20mg versus the Regular Strength’s 10mg). We recommend switching to the Extra Strength formula only after taking the Regular Strength capsules for at least a month. It is exclusively available in mixed berry flavor.
Prevagen Professional Formula
The most potent offering in the Prevagen lineup, the Professional Formula capsules, contain a staggering 40mg per capsule, twice as strong as Extra Strength and four times more robust than the Regular Strength variant. If you desire to try this variant after having experimented with the other two, we advise seeking professional medical guidance before doing so.
It’s important to note that while the Prevagen products vary in strength, they contain the same components and provide similar benefits. Thus, all the information detailed in this review pertains to all three Prevagen variants.
Prevagen Benefits
On the front of the Prevagen box, you will see the bold claims that it “Supports Healthy Brain Function, Sharper Mind, Clearer Thinking”. Memory improvement is the key focus of Prevagen, according to the information on their website, which states that Prevagen has been clinically demonstrated to safely and effectively enhance memory. However, the supporting clinical study only discusses subgroups of people who are cognitively normal or mildly impaired, leaving a lot to be taken at face value.
Furthermore, the study makes no mention of “sharper mind” or “clearer thinking,” so it’s unclear how much weight these claims hold. Despite this, Prevagen won the “Number One Pharmacist Recommended Memory Support Brand in 2022” award from Pharmacy Times, which is a point in its favor. However, it’s still difficult to place too much emphasis on this. That being said, memory improvement is an appealing goal for many, particularly those of a certain age. Therefore, Prevagen may be an attractive nootropic option for a significant audience. Now, let’s examine the ingredients and how they are intended to provide benefits.
Prevagen Ingredients
Two key ingredients form the backbone of Prevagen. Notably, this nootropic formula also includes additional ingredients such as sugar, milk, and soy. If you have a specific dietary requirement or sensitivity, it’s essential to take note of these additives.
Let’s delve into the main ingredients in detail.
Vitamin D3 cholecalciferol: A Crucial Ingredient
As we age, our cognitive functions tend to decline, and one of the main reasons for this is the reduced levels of vitamin D. There are numerous clinical studies that back this up, establishing a firm correlation between cognitive impairment and low vitamin D levels. That’s why Prevagen includes vitamin D3 cholecalciferol, a vital ingredient that helps to maintain optimal levels of vitamin D in your body. This is crucial for preventing the decline of your brain function.
The benefits of vitamin D3 cholecalciferol are not just limited to cognitive function. It also supports the health of your muscles, bones, and nervous system. However, the extent to which taking vitamin D supplements can prevent cognitive decline remains uncertain. This may vary from person to person, depending on their diet and individual circumstances. Nonetheless, including vitamin D3 cholecalciferol in Prevagen is a logical move to ensure that your brain functions at its best.
Apoaequorin: A Mysterious Ingredient
Apoaequorin is the main ingredient in Prevagen, and it is an intriguing one at that. It is a calcium-binding protein typically found in jellyfish that can glow in the dark. Research suggests that apoaequorin is linked to memory and general brain health. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim, and it has been the subject of numerous court cases.
The theory behind including apoaequorin in Prevagen is that it acts as a calcium-binding agent that helps to remove calcium deposits in your brain, which can contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease if left untreated. The idea is that by having more apoaequorin, you are less likely to develop dementia. However, the research on this is still not conclusive.
The Madison Memory Study from 2016 is often cited as proof that apoaequorin works, but researchers themselves stated that the improvements were not statistically significant. In other words, while many people did feel an improvement, the evidence was not strong enough to support the claims made about apoaequorin’s effectiveness.
Minor Ingredients
While there are other minor ingredients in Prevagen, they mainly serve as a part of the capsule’s formation and do not necessarily contribute to improving cognitive function.
What Customers Say About Prevagen?
The Prevagen product is grounded in a certain philosophy, but how does it perform in reality? Our team is now poised to put it through its paces.
When it comes to conducting a product review, I typically sample the supplement myself. However, I am not the intended target audience for this particular product given my (somewhat) youthful age. So, I recruited a trusted former colleague who was kind enough to offer their feedback.
A bit of background about our tester: they are in their mid-fifties, work as a freelance writer, and have a spouse and two grown children who are attending college away from home. Our tester has expressed concern about their memory on occasion, although it is not particularly severe.
I felt that this person was a suitable candidate to try Prevagen for me. Here is what they shared with me:
“I have never tried any nootropic supplements before, nor had I even heard of them before you reached out to me. I was excited to give Prevagen a go. While I wouldn’t say that I struggle with my memory, I sometimes find myself struggling to find the right words to use when writing, or needing to stop and search for information – it’s frustrating and has made me less efficient in my work. I don’t seem to get as much done as I used to.
I began taking one capsule each morning with my breakfast, as recommended. I am not on any medication, but I do take a few other vitamin supplements to maintain my overall health.
To be honest, I didn’t notice any difference whatsoever for the first two weeks. I would be dishonest if I claimed I wasn’t starting to doubt the entire experiment, but I had committed to the 30-day trial, so I persevered even though my initial inclination was that it was a waste of time.
However, something occurred during the third week. It wasn’t a massive ‘aha’ moment, but it was significant. I realized that I was accomplishing a bit more work. Articles that used to take me an entire day to finish were now being completed after lunch. By Friday, I only had enough work to fill a half-day, so I treated my wife to dinner.
It’s difficult to articulate, because I’m not sure I would have even detected the difference if I hadn’t been documenting it for you – but the best way I can describe it is that I made marginal gains. I was able to work for longer periods without having to stop to look up information or find the right word. These sorts of things can totally derail you and halt any momentum you’ve built up. The change I felt was modest, but it had a significant impact.
I have continued to use Prevagen for the full 30 days and may continue beyond that. I believe that the effect has plateaued, but it has been substantial enough to make me reluctant to stop using it. I am attempting to work on a few initiatives to help me plan for retirement, and I feel much more capable of doing so since beginning to use Prevagen.”
Does Prevagen Work?
The inquiry into the effectiveness of Prevagen on cognitive function and age-related memory loss is certainly a pressing one. Unfortunately, the answer to that inquiry is not so straightforward, as it’s likely that the results will vary depending on each individual’s particular circumstances.
Regrettably, we cannot give a definitive answer as the field of nootropics is still in its nascent stages and there isn’t enough independent research to substantiate the claims made by these companies. As each nootropic is tailored to individual requirements, it’s expected that the impact of Prevagen will differ from person to person.
Nonetheless, in our trial, we did observe some positive outcomes from Prevagen. However, we have to emphasize that this was not a clinical study, but rather an informal account. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that one of the purported benefits of Prevagen is long-term brain health, which we cannot gauge with a 30-day experiment.
Although Prevagen appears to be a respectable nootropic, it’s crucial to conduct further research to confirm its validity.
In Conclusion
Prevagen is a nootropic supplement that primarily relies on apoaequorin as its active ingredient. Whether or not Prevagen can enhance your cognitive function depends on how your body reacts to this key ingredient. However, it is important to note that more rigorous scientific research is required before any definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding its effectiveness.
That being said, there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence that suggests Prevagen may improve cognitive function. Consequently, it may be worthwhile to try it out for yourself to see if it yields any noticeable benefits.
Alternatively, if you are searching for a nootropic supplement that delivers on the promises made by Prevagen and then some, we suggest giving VyvaMind a try. Our experience suggests that VyvaMind may be a more comprehensive and effective option.
HealthNip does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.