I passed by a shelf of food supplement products the other day and I noticed that some of them purported to improve mental functions. There were claims of improving memory, of clarifying thinking and so on. I got curious about what their ingredients might be and found that no two of those products contained the same things. I took snap shots of their labels and later put their various key ingredient names into Google.
A few snippets of the results that came up were as follows:
Apoaequorin
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1486/apoaequorin
Problems with calcium regulation in the human brain are thought to play a role in age-related mental decline. Because apoaequorin has a similar structure to human calcium-binding proteins, some researchers believe it might help regulate calcium in the brain and reduce memory loss and mental decline.
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Ginkgo Flavone Glycosides
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/supplement-guide-ginkgo-biloba#1
Ginkgo improves blood flow to the brain and acts as an anmtioxidant. These effects may translate into some benefits for certain medical problems, but the results have been mixed. Some studies have found that in healthy people, ginkgo might modestly boost memory and cognitive speed. Other studies have not found a benefit.
Terpene Lactones
https://www.agilent.com/cs/library/applications/5991-3856EN.pdf
Ginkgo biloba extract is derived from the leaves and seeds of the ginkgo tree, one of the oldest living tree species in the world. The herb is used to improve memory, treat depression, and maintain healthy blood circulation. Terpene lactones in the extract inhibit platelet activating factors to improve blood circulation. The extracts are standardized to contain approximately 6% terpene lactones. Ginkgo biloba is regulated as a dietary supplement, not a drug.
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L-Theanine
https://www.healthline.com/health/l-theanine
Research indicates that L-theanine promotes relaxation without drowsiness. Many people take L-theanine to help ease stress and unwind.
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1053/theanine
Some people take theanine by mouth for anxiety and stress, depression, schizophrenia, for preventing Alzheimer's disease, for treating attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and improving mental performance and attention.
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Phosphatidylserine
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/phosphatidylserine-uses-and-risks#1
Several studies suggest that it may boost your brain power. People who took the supplement scored higher on short-term memory, mood, and concentration tests. For example, they could better recall names and objects. Much more research is needed to confirm these results.
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Silk Protein Hydrolysate
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5852809/
The consumption of a specifically prepared silk fibroin protein enzymatic hydrolysate (FPEH) has been reported to improve cognitive function in healthy humans.
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My personal sense is to avoid all of these things because phrases like "... some researchers believe ...", "... these effects may translate into some benefits ...", "... might modestly boost ...", "Some people take ...", "Several studies suggest ..." and "... has been reported to improve ..." strike me as lukewarm praise of anecdotal reports.
I need firmer science than that.
