Prevagen is a supplement marketed as helpful for memory loss and cognitive issues related to aging. While it’s a popular, widely sold supplement, there are some doubts about whether it works. Below, we cover what Prevagen is used for and also answer common questions like is Prevagen safe.
Memory Problems As We Age
When we get older, our memory may be affected. Our memory is the process or power to recall what we learn and retain. Aging leads to subtle changes in memory, although serious memory problems aren’t considered a normal part of aging.
Forgetting things from time to time, like misplacing our keys or being slow to recall a name or date, is considered fairly normal when we age. There are a lot of memory processes, and they can be disrupted, leading to forgetfulness. There are also different types of memory, each of which can be affected by aging.
It’s very common as anyone gets older to see subtle effects in remembering names or finding words, which is known as tip of the tongue issues. It can take longer to get words out, and executive functions can slow down when you’re learning new tasks or your attention is divided.
Things that aren’t considered normal in aging, on the other hand, are those situations that interfere with your daily life and activities.
For example, normal aging might lead you to forget where you put your glasses. Abnormal aging would be forgetting what you use glasses for. Memory loss seen in dementia and mild cognitive impairment is not normal either.
Certain lifestyle changes can help you preserve your memory and cognitive function as you age, like maintaining healthy blood pressure and blood glucose levels, avoiding excess alcohol, and eating a healthy diet.
Then, there are some situations where people might turn to a supplement like Prevagen to help their memory. Some supplements seem to be beneficial for normal age-related memory loss. Still, Prevagen doesn’t have as much research to back up its usefulness as many others, like ginkgo biloba.
How Prevagen Works
Prevagen is an over-the-counter supplement. Since it is marketed as a supplement, it doesn’t need FDA approval.
The main ingredient in the brain supplement is apoaequorin. Apoaequorin is a protein found in jellyfish, and in lab studies, it’s been shown to act similarly to a protein in our bodies called calmodulin. Calmodulin is thought to play a vital role in memory.
Apoaequorin has the potential to bind to calcium in the brain. Dysregulation of brain calcium is thought to be associated with memory loss and cognitive decline, so in theory, Prevagen could help normalize brain calcium levels and improve cognition-related symptoms.
Lowering the intracellular calcium levels in the brains of old mice in animal studies has been shown to help rejuvenate their synapses.
While that sounds great, there are a couple of issues with Prevagen.
First, there’s limited research to determine how well the calcium regulation theory holds up, especially in humans. There’s only one major study, and it was conducted by Quincy Biosciences, the company that manufactures the supplement.
The second issue is that proteins are broken down in the GI tract. Apoaequorin is a protein, and if it’s broken down too early in the body, it can’t cross the blood-brain barrier and then won’t have benefits for brain health.
More research is needed to look at the effects of Prevagen.
Some customers who use the product say it helps their memory, but others say it has no effect.
Is Prevagen Safe?
Prevagen is controversial. The study referenced above, conducted by Quincy Bioscience, is the only major one available to determine safety. The supplement did seem to be well-tolerated by more than 200 humans who participated in that study, but it only ran for 90 days, so we don’t have data about long-term safety.
The only listed side effects are mild and include things like dizziness and nausea, but some users have reported more serious side effects.
We don’t know if those serious side effects are linked to Prevagen. As far as what we know now, Prevagen is mostly safe, but anyone thinking about using it should talk to their doctor or health care provider first.
Final Thoughts
Prevagen is used to help with mild memory loss and loss of cognitive function related to normal aging. It’s not meant as a treatment for dementia, and it should be used with caution.
