As more consumers struggle to cope (with everyday life, demanding jobs, high-performance sports, e-gaming or the natural process of ageing), we will continue to see new opportunities for ingredient and product innovations that support cognitive health and mental well-being.
Industry sources tell us that these products are among the fastest-growing and most widely researched in the field of nutraceuticals, which is reflected in some stellar market growth.
According to Future Market Insights, sales of health supplements targeting cognition and mood will continue its positive trajectory and is set to experience significant growth (with a robust CAGR of 13.3% predicted between 2023 and 2033).1
With stress being a part of everyday life, we also face real challenges regarding global ageing. The World Health Organization predicts that, by 2030, one in six people worldwide will be aged 60 years and older.2
This has significant implications, particularly regarding growing issues such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is one of the fastest-growing brain disorders in ageing populations.3
The most obvious challenge relating to MCI is its ability to interfere with an individual’s ability to cope with daily life. Symptoms often range from a decrease in processing information speed to memory deficits, as well as cognitive changes including heightened anxiety.
According to information released by FMCG Gurus, consumers will continue to prioritise brain health and emotional well-being. It is estimated that 37% of individuals seek solutions to improve their mental focus, whereas 30% want to increase cognitive performance and 33% their brain power.4
This makes the development of dietary supplements and nutraceuticals to support brain health an important priority.
To meet modern consumer demand for supplements that offer cognitive support, product developers must take some of the biggest consumer requirements on board, primarily when it comes to ingredients that are non-stimulant and derived from natural sources.
To meet this demand, scientists will continue to explore the effect of medicinal plants that offer a neuroprotective and neurogenerative function, particularly those found in the Sideritis species.
As experts in botanical efficacy committed to protect and promote health the natural way, Finzelberg understands the importance of developing ingredient solutions that can both target brain health and increase oxygenated cerebral blood flow and energy substrate uptake in the brain to maintain optimal brain perfusion.
The Sideritis species and CONCENTAL
CONCENTAL is extracted from Sideritis species. The genus Sideritis belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is grown in mountainous areas of the Mediterranean.
Plants in the Sideritis family contain a variety of bioactive compounds that have been linked to mental enhancement, improvements in cognitive performance and neuroprotective effects.
In the ethnomedicinal approach, Sideritis plants are often cited as “longevity agents” for their potential to reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline.5
How it works
With the positive benefits of Sideritis species being well documented, Finzelberg developed its branded ingredient CONCENTAL to improve attention and accuracy in high-intensity situations.
It works by increasing oxygen saturation during periods of high cognitive demand; an increase in cerebral blood flow is seen as critically important in the maintenance of optimal brain health.
CONCENTAL also works by directly inhibiting the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine.
This means that CONCENTAL has a multitude of positive effects on the brain; it boosts concentration in mentally demanding situations and improves the brain’s ability to process information while increasing mental flexibility and memory (even under stressful situations).
Supported claims
As an award-winning, non-stimulant brain essential, CONCENTAL is backed by strong proprietary research. It is highly versatile and can be used alone or in established formulations with B-vitamins, Ginkgo and Bacopa in different formats.
Finzelberg invested in extensive preclinical and clinical research to support the highly effective properties of CONCENTAL for mental health and cognitive performance.
In vitro, human studies and phytochemical investigation have confirmed that CONCENTAL provides fast acting and long-lasting benefits when used daily.
The research was conducted in parallel with establishing a commercial supply chain based on controlled cultivation and wild collection structures, both as organic and conventional grades.
During a pilot study, research indicated that when CONCENTAL is used in combination with B-vitamins it led to significant improvements in both reaction time and error rates under stress after 6 weeks compared with baseline.
Researchers therefore concluded that dietary supplementation could alleviate stress-induced impairment, improving working memory and cognitive flexibility.6
Another study also investigated the acute effects of CONCENTAL alone or in combination with Bacopa in subjects suffering from MCI. The research showed that this combination led to a statistically significant improvement in concentration, increasing the attention of participants.7
In addition, a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled parallel group study conducted at Northumbria University in the UK revealed statistically significant improvements in cerebral blood flow on day one and a significant reduction in state anxiety after 28 days.
This further led to better performance (fewer errors) measured in the “COMPASS” battery of assessment of cognitive testing in mentally demanding situations.
The study also indicated up to a two-fold improvement in reaction times with 475 mg of CONCENTAL administered daily compared with the placebo after 90 minutes from day one. This rose to an eight-fold improvement in reaction times with the same dose of 475 mg compared with the placebo after 28 days.8
From the available evidence, it has therefore been concluded that CONCENTAL may enhance cognitive function by improving attention, focus, memory and overall mental performance.
To this end, Finzelberg pinpointed three distinct consumer categories that could benefit from dietary supplements that target cognitive health and mental well-being.
- Healthy agers: A key to healthy ageing is staying mentally sharp and maintaining proper brain function. As a natural, non-stimulant solution, CONCENTAL offers a neuroprotective benefit. This is a strong asset for any product formulation addressing cognitive performance, memory, mood and anxiety.
- Everyday heroes: Maintaining high concentration levels and staying mentally sharp is a daily challenge for consumers in demanding everyday situations. CONCENTAL can boost cognitive performance in stressful situations with memory capacity and rapid information processing as core brain functions.
- Athletes and e-gamers: CONCENTAL can act as a natural brain coach, with positive impacts on cognitive performance, reaction speed, information processing and reducing error rates. CONCENTAL can effectively support performance under physical and mental stress to stay ahead of the competition.
Taken in line with daily recommended dosage instructions, products formulated with CONCENTAL may contribute to improved mental flexibility, mood, focus and concentration, as well as alertness and clarity during mentally demanding situations.
It is a highly versatile solution for use in tablets, capsules, gummies, soft chews, instant powders and effervescent tablets.
In conclusion
CONCENTAL is foundational for cognitive performance and health at any age. It enhances cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain for improved mental flexibility, focus and concentration.
It also impacts alertness and clarity in mentally demanding situations by increasing cerebral blood flow. This strongly reduces anxiety, increases concentration in high-stress situations and improves an individual’s ability to process information while boosting mental flexibility, concentration and memory.
References
- www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/cognitive-health-supplement-market#:~:text=Cognitive%20health%20supplement%20sales%20are,US%24%209.0%20billion%20in%202023.
- www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health.
- https://theconversation.com/new-studies-suggest-millions-with-mild-cognitive-impairment-go-undiagnosed-often-until-its-too-late-216892.
- https://fmcggurus.com/reports/fmcg-gurus-navigating-cognitive-health-and-wellness-in-2023-global-report/.
- A. Panossian, “Herba Sideritis: A Putative Adaptogen for Reducing the Risk of Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Neurodegenerative Disorders,” Phytomedicine Plus 4, 100519 (2024).
- I. Behrendt, et al., “Effect of an Herbal Extract of Sideritis scardica and B-Vitamins on Cognitive Performance Under Stress: A Pilot Study,” Int. J. Phytomed. 8, 95–103 (2016).
- W. Dimpfel, et al., “Psychophysiological Effects of Sideritis and Bacopa Extract and Three Combinations Thereof — A Quantitative EEG Study in Subjects Suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI),” Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease 5, 1–22 (2016).
- E.L. Wightman, et al., “The Acute and Chronic Cognitive and Cerebral Blood Flow Effects of a Sideritis scardica (Greek Mountain Tea) Extract: A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Groups Study in Healthy Humans,” Nutrients 10(8), 955 (2018).
