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The Top 5 Science Backed Supplements For Brain Health
An Evidence Based Guide to the Top 5 Supplements Proven to Support Brain Function Across Multiple Domains
Welcome to Another Neuroglobe Original
Welcome to this edition of the Neuroglobe Newsletter, where we break down the science behind better brain performance. Today, we’re diving into five of the most research-backed supplements proven to enhance memory, focus, and long-term brain health.
The Importance of Supplementation for Brain Health
The brain is the most metabolically active organ in the body, consuming over 20% of your energy despite weighing just three pounds. While lifestyle factors lay the foundation, certain nutrients(when isolated and clinically tested) have been shown to enhance key aspects of cognitive function. Supplements aren’t shortcuts, but when supported by research, they can amplify focus, memory, and long-term neural resilience. The following five are backed not by trends, but by peer-reviewed studies and measurable outcomes in human brains.
1. Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, are essential building blocks of the brain. DHA supports the physical structure of neurons, while EPA plays a key role in reducing neuroinflammation and supporting mood regulation.
Supplementation of Omega-3 is known to support memory, improve mood, and maintain the structural integrity of brain cells. It’s also been linked to reduced neuroinflammation and enhanced connectivity between neurons. Research has found that EPA-dominant omega-3 formulations can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, especially at doses under 1 gram per day. Another study found that omega-3s significantly increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key protein involved in the growth of neurons, learning, memory, and neuroplasticity.
This supplement is ideal for anyone looking to support long-term brain health, enhance memory, stabilize mood, or reduce cognitive decline. It’s especially beneficial for those experiencing mental fatigue, chronic stress, or age-related changes in brain function.
2. Creatine Monohydrate

Creatine is best known for its role in muscle performance, but it’s equally vital for the brain, where it helps regenerate ATP, the molecule that powers every cellular process, including thinking. Supplementing with creatine increases energy availability in the brain, improving cognitive performance under both normal and demanding conditions.
Research has found that creatine significantly increases memory performance and processing speed, particularly during periods of mental fatigue, sleep deprivation, or high cognitive load. Creatine may also protect against neurological decline by supporting mitochondrial function and buffering oxidative stress in brain cells. Its ability to enhance brain bioenergetics makes it one of the most well-studied and reliable cognitive enhancers available.
This supplement is ideal for students, professionals, or athletes seeking sharper mental performance, as well as older adults looking to preserve cognitive function and brain resilience under stress.
3. Citicoline

Citicoline is a compound naturally produced in the brain that serves as a key building block for phospholipids and neurotransmitters. Supplementation has been shown to improve memory, support cognitive processing, and enhance communication between brain cells by boosting acetylcholine and restoring neuronal membrane integrity.
A study in healthy adults found that 500 mg of citicoline daily for 12 weeks significantly improved episodic memory and overall composite memory scores. Beyond memory, citicoline has also been shown in other trials to enhance focus, attention, and motor speed, particularly in populations under cognitive strain. Mechanistically, it increases brain phosphatidylcholine levels, which decline with age, and improves frontal lobe bioenergetics—both essential for learning, executive function, and sustained attention.
This supplement is especially valuable for individuals experiencing brain fog, attention lapses, or age-related memory decline, as well as high performers seeking sharper focus and faster mental processing.
4. Lions Mane Mushroom

Lion’s Mane is one of the few natural compounds shown to actively support brain regeneration. Its unique compounds(hericenones and erinacines) stimulate the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein essential for the repair, growth, and survival of neurons.
A study reviewing multiple clinical trials found that Lion’s Mane significantly improved memory, executive function, and cognitive test scores in older adults. The same research also highlighted reductions in anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, suggesting Lion’s Mane may support emotional resilience as well as cognition. Mechanistically, it enhances neurogenesis, reduces brain inflammation, and may influence the gut-brain axis by modulating neurotransmitter production through microbial metabolites. Its ability to both protect and restore brain cells makes it a standout in natural nootropic research.
This supplement is especially beneficial for individuals experiencing cognitive decline, mental burnout, or mood instability, and for those seeking long-term support for brain repair and plasticity.
5. Magnesium L-Threonate

Magnesium is a mineral that is essential for over 600 enzymatic reactions in the body, but when it comes to the brain, it plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Unlike other forms of magnesium, magnesium L-threonate is uniquely able to cross the blood-brain barrier, increasing magnesium concentrations in brain tissue and directly impacting cognitive function.
Research has found that magnesium L-threonate significantly improves deep and REM sleep, mental clarity, mood, and daytime alertness, even in healthy adults with mild sleep issues. Meanwhile, a separate study on Alzheimer’s disease showed that it enhanced learning and spatial memory, reduced neuroinflammation, and repaired gut-brain axis dysfunction. Beyond these studies, magnesium L-threonate has also been associated with improvements in working memory, executive function, and stress resilience, particularly in aging populations and those with cognitive decline. Its ability to directly elevate brain magnesium levels makes it uniquely positioned among neuroprotective supplements.
This supplement is ideal for individuals seeking to enhance memory consolidation, improve sleep quality, or protect their brain from age-related cognitive decline, especially those experiencing mental fatigue or chronic stress.
Final Thoughts
Remember, these five supplements aren’t trends, they’re backed by research and proven to support memory, focus, neuroprotection, and overall brain performance. If you’re ready to take your cognitive health further, visit our store for science-backed ebooks designed to help you optimize your brain from the inside out.
Until next time,
The Neuroglobe Team