As the public becomes increasingly aware of the consequences of neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), consumers are embracing preventive tactics to increase brain health and prevent declining cognitive function.
According to a study published by MMR Research, brain health is a top heath concern amongst Europe’s primary regions.1
This comes after a similar study conducted in the UK in 2021, which included brain health as one of three of the most important health priorities amongst European consumers.
With this shift in attitude towards brain health, it’s no wonder that there has been increasing interest in taking proactive measures to enhance cognitive function.
A 2024 market research report reveals that 53% of global consumers are interested in cognitive wellness products … even when not suffering from specific health problems.2
As the appetite for nutritional supplements aimed at enhancing brain health grows, it’s important for consumers to be fully cognizant of the brain-boosting ingredients within these products.
Interest in supplements to support brain health has risen dramatically in recent years. So, what are the ingredients that consumers should be looking for in a supplement and what makes them unique?
The three most common ingredients to look for are resveratrol, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt (PQQ).
A review of resveratrol
Resveratrol is a natural phenolic compound found in fruits such as grapes, berries and peanuts. Some research has revealed its potent anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, antioxidant and antiageing properties.
Although a better understanding of the neurological benefits of resveratrol might allow for the development of new interventions aimed at preventing or managing neurocognitive disorders such as AD, the research work in this field is still incomplete.
Many concerns — such as bioavailability, biotransformation, interactions with other dietary factors and risks associated with its possible pro-oxidant activities — still need to be addressed.
What’s more, evidence regarding resveratrol’s impact on dementia patients is contradictory.
In a randomised controlled trial of AD patients, one year of treatment with a high dose of resveratrol had a minor positive effect on the ability to complete daily activities but no effect on several other measures of cognition and function.3
The effects of resveratrol on the brain were mixed — with signs of both benefit and harm. Patients treated with resveratrol showed a slower progression of beta-amyloid plaque formation but accelerated loss of brain volume.
The latter, measured by brain imaging, may be because of a reduction in inflammation but is usually indicative of degeneration. Based on this trial, it is unclear whether resveratrol will provide positive benefits for patients in the long-term.
An analysis of NMN
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a clear indication of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. A significant contributor to mitochondrial abnormalities is the loss of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), an important cofactor in multiple metabolic reactions.
It has been confirmed in clinical reports that NAD+ declines with age. Since then, NAD+ has become a target for potential pharmacological therapies aiming to reverse its decline and protect against age-related diseases.
An alternative strategy to maintain cellular NAD+ levels is to administer precursors that help to initiate an NAD+ salvage pathway.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide, commonly referred to as NMN, is a naturally occurring molecule that helps to power the body. It is also found in small amounts in foods such as broccoli and avocados.
It’s a precursor of NAD+ and a driving force in the body’s production of this metabolite. Although some studies show promising results in animal studies and limited human trials, additional research is required to verify whether the ingredient alone can effectively increase NAD+ levels to promote brain health.
PQQ for brain food
A naturally occurring antioxidant ingredient found in trace amounts in vegetables, fruits, meat and in human breast milk, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) may play a critical part in delaying the effects of age and helping to improve cognitive function (in both humans and animals).
A natural source of PQQ was developed by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Inc. (MGC) in Japan. Brand-named MGCPQQ in Europe, it’s also known as BioPQQ in the US, Canada and Japan.
In addition to providing antioxidant protection to brain cells, decades of clinical research have demonstrated that MGCPQQ can help to increase the quality and levels of mitochondria while removing dysfunctional ones through mitochondrial biogenesis.
In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study, MGC investigated the effects of MGCPQQ on cognitive function in adults aged 20–65 and found that participants showed improvements in composite and verbal memory.
However, to better analyse the impacts of the ingredient on different age groups, an age-stratified analysis was done. Younger adults (aged 20–40) demonstrated improvements in a range of cognitive function after 8 weeks whereas older adults (aged 41–65) showed enhancements in complex and verbal memory after 12 weeks.
In previous studies, MGCPQQ has been shown to improve brain function and cognition in older adults (45 and older); however, this new study reveals that this mitochondrial boosting ingredient can help to improve cognitive performance in younger adults as well.
Furthermore, MGCPQQ is the only PQQ ingredient to be successfully evaluated for its safety and quality by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and appears on the European Union’s approved list of Novel Foods.
For that reason, it is the only PQQ that’s legally allowed to be sold in the EU, EEA, Switzerland and UK.
Although other ingredients such as resveratrol and NMN are known to enhance mitochondria, MGCPQQ has been shown to be 10–1000 times more effective. It remains the most researched and studied ingredient of its kind globally.
As the cognitive health supplement market continues to grow, it’s important for consumers to be aware of the brain-boosting ingredients to look out for in products as they browse store shelves.
As research continues to examine the cognitive function boosting and healthy mitochondria increasing potential of different ingredients, consumers should be mindful when it comes to choosing supplements with ingredients that have been thoroughly vetted, studied and validated for quality and safety.
References
- https://hubs.la/Q01b5Z2x0.
- https://fmcggurus.com/tag/brain-health/.
- https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000002035.
Further reading
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22211686/#:~:text=Since%20then%2C%20increasing%20evidence%20has,especially%20Alzheimer's%20disease%20(AD).
- www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/2/177.
- www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/ratings/resveratrol.
- www.healthline.com/health/nmn-nicotinamide-mononucleotide-benefits-side-effects-and-dosage#Benefits-of-taking-an-NMN-supplement.
- www.forbes.com/health/supplements/nicotinamide-mononucleotide/.
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8747183/.
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4358858/.
