Prevagen Review - 11 Things You Need to Know
There are very few products out there that get as much attention as memory and brain supplements, and Prevagen is one of those. Prevagen claims to be “the top-selling memory supplement in stores”. While the active ingredient, apoaequorin, has been shown to improve memory function in those with very mild cognitive decline, Prevagen should not be confused with a prescription cognitive aid.
Still, our team of researchers presented us with all the information they found about Prevagen’s complete ingredient list, reported side effects, and scientific studies on the product. We’ve summarized their findings here for you today.
Prevagen can be purchased through their Official Site.
What is Prevagen?
Prevagen is a dietary supplement for brain and memory health. Supposedly, the supplement claims to help prevent memory loss and improve concentration. The company behind Prevagen is the Quincy Bioscience company. Prevagen contains apoaequorin, a protein from jellyfish. Supposedly it helps promote and enhance brain function. Apoaequorin apparently reduces excess calcium levels in the brain and improves short-term memory problems.
Before we jump right into the supplement, let’s take a quick look at the ingredient and research.
- LiverTox – “Apoaequorin is a recombinant protein used as a dietary supplement that is purported to improve memory and verbal learning.”
- Advances in Mind-Body Medicine – In aging adults, the use of apoaequorin promoted improvements in cognitive function.
- Neuroscience Letters – With all the support for the main ingredient, we were bound to find something to negate it. Some research shows that apoaequorin may not be the right protein with calmodulin working better.
Prevagen Competitors
Product | Review | |
---|---|---|
Focus Factor | read | |
Brain Octane Oil | read | |
Noom | read |
Prevagen Claims
Prevagen claims to improve the health and function of the brain. According to the journal Advances in Mind-Body Medicine, “apoaequorin and improvements on a quantitative measure of cognitive function.” The study states the ingredient is “well-tolerated,” and addresses declines in cognitive function.
Scroll below for one of the best products we’ve seen over the last year.
Prevagen Ingredients
The active ingredient in Prevagen is:
- Apoaequorin
A serving of Prevagen is equal to 1 capsule. Each bottle contains 30 servings.
Prevagen may contain different ingredients depending on the version you purchase. These supplements include:
- Prevagen Regular Strength
- Prevagen Orange Chewables
- Prevagen Mixed Berry Chewables
- Prevagen Extra Strength
- Prevagen Extra Strength Mixed Berry Chewables
- Prevagen Professional Formula
Does Prevagen Work?
While there’s research supporting the effectiveness of apoaequorin, there’s also information contrary to the research.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, “apoaequorin is rapidly digested in the stomach and broken down into amino acids and small peptides like any other dietary protein.”
Prevagen Benefits and Results
Prevagen may be a good product for mild problems, particularly ones due to aging. It may be suitable for adults who want to improve short-term memory overall brain health.
According to the Wellness, the blog from the University of California Berkley, “The primary ingredient in Prevagen is a synthetic version of apoaequorin and it has the potential to improve the function of aging neurons and, therefore, to enhance memory and cognitive function.”
How to Use Prevagen
Prevagen is for daily use. You’ll take one Prevagen capsule in the morning with or without food.
Potential Prevagen Side Effects
There’s no clinical research showing the active ingredient in Prevagen, apoaequorin, causes side effects. The only mention of side effects is in some Prevagen reviews.
According to LiverTox, it doesn’t seem to have any toxic effects.
Prevagen Alternatives
There are a lot of brain products, and Lumonol Wisdom is one of them. Lumonol Wisdom is a new product created by Avanse Nutraceuticals.
This product contains Noopept, a compound claiming to provide a variety of claimed benefits including:
- Improved memory recall
- Increased memory capacity
- Improved capacity to learn
- Increased mental processing speed
- Enhanced mood
Prevagen Extra Strength
Prevagen Extra Strength is just a stronger version of the original formula; claiming to be an advanced “brain enhancement supplement.” Claims include:
- Increase Mental Function
- Promote Clearer Thinking
- Improve Overall Brain Health
In addition to the extra strength formula, Prevagen offers the Chewables, Professional Formula and Neuroshake. The Chewables are in mixed berry flavor and provide an option for those who cannot swallow pills.
The professional formula includes 250% of the daily recommended value of vitamin D with the main ingredient, which the National Institutes of Health claims can be naturally found in foods like tuna. salmon, and fish. Neuroshake is a protein powder that you mix with water or another beverage to make a shake.
Focus Factor
Focus Factor is a dietary supplement supposedly helping to enhance mental focus and clarity. Focus Factor ingredients include:
- DMAE
- Vitamins – B6, B12, D3
- Beta carotene
- Huperzine
- Bacopa
- Phosphatidylcholine
- Phosphatidylserine
Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is another brain supplement focused on boosting concentration, memory, and energy. Alpha Brain ingredients include:
- Alpha GPC
- Huperzine A
- Vinpocetine
- AC-11
- Bacopa
- L-Tyrosine
- L-Theanine
Prevagen Lawsuits
In the past, Prevagen hasn’t had much trouble with the FDA or law. However, that changed in 2017 when the product received a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission and The People of the State of New York.
According to the complaint, “deceptive business practices and false advertising” were used to sell, market, and distribute the product.
In August 2018, Quincy Bioscience was sued for the deceptive advertising of Prevagen, according to Class Action. The class action complaint is still in court.
In July 2019, Quincy Bioscience was again sued, according to Class Action. This lawsuit claims that Prevagen does not work as claimed.
What Users Are Saying
“Bought it for my 80 year old Mom. SHE LOVES IT! She is so sassy now and offered to let me borrow a pill or two when I forgot something that she remembered. What makes me happy is her confidence is much higher. That’s priceless. 10mg capsules did the trick for her. I’m not saying it’s for everyone because I think it depends on the individual medically. But highly recommend trying it for your elderly relatives.”
“No Observable Effect – Used the recommended dosage for 4 months and saw no effects whatever. My wife and I watch Jeopardy daily. Many times I know the answer but cannot recall it in the time allotted. Also my short term memory is quite poor, can’t remember what I came downstairs to get and such. Prevagen had no effect whatever for these symptoms. Calling this a scam.”
“Whether this product works or not will be debated for a long time. I find it helps a bit, but it is very expensive, and that bothers me, as the compound is nothing special.”
The Bottom Line on Prevagen
Prevagen is considered one of the leading “brain” supplements on the market. There are even studies supporting the benefits of the active ingredient apoaequorin. However, there is also an alternative for supporting your healthy lifestyle changes.
Do you want to lose weight and improve wellness? Consider combining Prevagen with a clinically-proven program designed to help you with weight loss and weight maintenance.
When it comes to losing weight, a strong support system is critical to the success of any program. With Noom, the support you get takes the form of a personal coach, support group, group coach, daily lessons, interactive quizzes, and so much more. You get total weight-loss support all in an app that fits on your mobile phone. That’s impressive.
We were so convinced by the research on Noom that we partnered with the company to offer our readers a free trial offer!
Patricia (Verified Purchase)
My good friend started taking Prevagen a few months ago and has had a small miracle happen. She had a poor memory, and some learning disabilities that became embarrassing at her fast-paced job, but since taking it, she has noticed a huge difference. She feels so amazed by the results, she gave me a bottle. it is helping me with my post ‘chemo-brain’ fog. So much so that I splurged on a 3 month supply! I don’t go in easily for these sort of things, and sincerely don’t believe my success is the result of some placebo effect. I feel clearer in my thinking, my memory has improved, and you can’t make this stuff up!
This comment seemed helpful
Anne Wyckoff
Al,
While I’ve had the same concerns as you (+17 years of medical study involving pathology), there IS something odd happening to some consumers. I, for one, am very immune to the “placebo effect,” yet after trying this for 2 weeks, I suddenly woke up with name-recall. My son noticed this, because I had to ask him names constantly in the past. I wouldn’t have tried prevagen if I’d looked into the molecular structure first, however (a rare lapse in judgement)
Do you think there’s a possibility that the EDTA is chelating something harmful with some people? I noticed another positive review from a scientist who used it for a trial but then stopped. It bewildered him as it does me.
Nadine Anderton
I always suspect nutritional supplements that come from exotic (like jellyfish) sources rather than from food-obtained nutrition. This allows the makers and distributors to make big bucks – something like the pharmaceutical companies? It sounds good, but it totally unavailable to someone like me on a very limited income. So I guess I’ll just have to die from my brain problems, which may or may not turn out to be Alzheimers.
Alexander
Amino acids cross the blood-brain barrier. Whole proteins do not. Any beneficial effect of apoaequorin is lost as soon as it is digested into amino acids like any other protein. It is simply untrue to claim that apoaequorin taken orally has any effect in the brain whatsoever.
Have you actually taken it?
I just started taking prevagen two day’s ago
YES
JK Freeze
Jason says “Disregarding the sketchy clinical trials cited, the active ingredient is a protein compound (Aequorin) that gets broken down upon digestion into its component amino acids. While Aequorin certainly does bind calcium, even if it did survive digestion it is unlikely to pass the blood-brain barrier”
Jason, being a bio-chemist, you DO know that ALL amino acids pass the blood brain barrier, don’t you?
also, Prevagen does NOT contain EDTA.
Check the label…it has EDTA
I have been taking it for two weeks. I’m so tired all the time and so many aches and pains. Its the only pill i started taking so I quit this AM and will see how I feel in a few days. Yesterday I was going to read the paper and couldn’t follow the sentence. I read a word and went to the next line. So scary I just couldn’t follow the lines. I was so tired. Not just sleepy but really tired like unable to get up and move. My bottle does not have EDTA as an ingredient
YES THAT IS HOW I FEEL
sherry oglesby (Verified Purchase)
seem to feel worse on this my thinking isworseand ihave an increasted bp
what do others say
Joy zuer (Verified Purchase)
Thank you for the reviews. Upon taking prevagen, lots of energy, could stay focused, but could not sleep on this product. Independent studies would make it morally sound. Don’t you think?
MaryA
How does it affect Calcium metabolism in bones? Jellyfish don’t have bones!
Good point Mary
Maria Steiselboin
A person with advance diseace like anzhaime this can help, or is too late?
Maria Steiselboin
A person with anzhaimer deseace in advance state this can help? because she can’t talk o walk?
could this supplement help migraine headache or headache pain?
RClayborn
Since it is a dietary supplement,can’t you lose weight from it ?
I started taking prevagen about 5 weeks ago and noticed my short term memory improving but I have also developed a rash that I thought was caused by fleas in my bedroom. No one else in my house had developed these itchy large bumps. I am quitting the prevagen which is too bad as I see it working and I have 2 more full bottles. I may try to get a refund on the last bottle I have this rash all over my body and it started around 4 weeks ago.
You might have a Doctor examine your rash. Not Provagen related, but I was diagnosed with “Grovers disease“, not a critical disease but more of an annoyance and discomfort that comes and goes often during hot weather.. Might just want to check it out, especially if the Prevagen is helping your memory.
you r probablt allergic to jelyfis
Dalores Anderson, the apoaequorin in the supplement was discovered in jellyfish, but jellyfish are not where this ingredient is derived, but it is now a synthetic protein. I’m not advocating or discouraging it’s use, as I just started taking it a couple of weeks ago myself.