Ginkgo biloba is one of the most-tested brain supplements — which is exactly why the gap between its marketing and its evidence is so clear. The two big dementia-prevention trials failed, the healthy-adult memory boost is thin, and the “blood-thinner” scare is overstated. Here’s what the evidence really shows.
The Finnish sauna-dementia finding is real but observational — and while you’re actually hot, cognition tends to get worse. An honest look at what sauna use does for the brain, the likely long-term mechanism, and the safety cautions most articles skip.
Phosphatidylserine is the only nootropic with an FDA-qualified health claim for cognitive function — and the research behind that designation is more robust than most supplement categories. Complete guide: how PS maintains cell membrane integrity, reduces cortisol, improves memory formation, and the sourcing and dosing protocol that delivers results.
Chronic neuroinflammation — mediated by NF-κB activation and microglial overactivation — is a primary driver of Alzheimer’s pathology, cognitive ageing, and depression. Diet directly regulates these inflammatory pathways. The MIND diet reduced Alzheimer’s risk by 58% in the Morris 2015 study. Extra-virgin olive oil’s oleocanthal inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 via the same mechanism as ibuprofen. The gut-brain axis — through microbiome dysbiosis and intestinal permeability — delivers systemic inflammation to the brain. Understanding the mechanisms makes dietary choices more specific and evidence-based than any superfood list.
Most people taking magnesium are taking the wrong form for cognitive purposes. Magnesium L-Threonate is the only commercially available magnesium compound with documented ability to meaningfully raise brain magnesium concentrations — addressing the NMDA receptor gating mechanism that determines synaptic plasticity efficiency. The Liu et al. trial reversed approximately 9 years of age-related cognitive decline in 12 weeks. This complete guide covers the mechanism, the MIT Neuron publication, the Magtein® quality distinction, and why evening timing is mechanistically optimal.
