Cognition

Human Effect Matrix

The Human Effect Matrix looks at human studies (excluding animal/petri-dish studies) to tell you what what supplements affect Cognition

Grade	Level of Evidence
A	Robust research conducted with repeated double blind clinical trials
B	Multiple studies where at least two are double-blind and placebo controlled
C	Single double blind study or multiple cohort studies
D	Uncontrolled or observational studies only

Level of Evidence	Supplement	Magnitude of Effect Size	Scientific Consensus	Comments
B	Panax Ginseng	Minor	75% See all 4 studies	An increase in cognition is seen acutely and thought to be due to anti-fatigue effects, with nonfatigued individuals not experiencing an increase in cognitive performance
B	Rhodiola Rosea	Notable	100% See all 4 studies	Notably effective assuming fatigue is being reduced. There is insufficient evidence to evaluate rhodiola's effects on cognition without the fatigue reduction aspect
B	L-Tyrosine	Minor	100% See all 3 studies	Tyrosine appears to effectively improve cognition during acute stressors (altitude and cold being tested most); this appears reliable if the acute stressor is present,... show but may not be an inherent increase in cognition and it is unsure if it applies to chronic stress and fatigue.
B	Phosphatidylserine	Minor	66% See all 3 studies	The interactions of supplemental PS with cognition in healthy persons is not fully researched, but there appears to be a positive influence; this may be secondary to a... show reduction in stress and excitation (the latter resulting in an increase in attention) but increased glucose utilization is an unexplored possibility
C	Green Tea Catechins	Minor	50% See 2 studies	Mixed results, but may improve cognitive performance acutely in persons with poorer cognition at baseline
C	Resveratrol		100% See study	No significant influence on cognition in otherwise healthy persons (despite an increase in cerebral blood flow)
C	L-Carnitine	Minor	100% See 2 studies	Improvements in general cognitive capacity has been noted in elderly persons and in disease models (hepatic encepalopathy); lack of literature on otherwise healthy youth
C	Dehydroepiandrosterone		100% See study	Overall cognition not affected by DHEA supplementation
C	Kava	Minor	100% See study	Possibly secondary to the antianxiety effects, kava taken prior to a test is able to enhance cognition related to mood during the stressful test.
C	Nicotine	Minor	100% See study	An improvement in cognition has been noted in persons with mild cognitive impairment
C	Black Cohosh		100% See study	No significant influences on cognition in menopausal women has been noted
C	Bacopa Monnieri		100% See study	No significant influences noted on acute cognitive performance with bacopa monnieri ingestion
C	Yamabushitake	Minor	100% See study	An improvement in cognition has been seen in older adults with cognitive decline; no evidence to support usage in youth at this moment in time
C	Pycnogenol	Minor	100% See study	An improvement in cognitive function has been noted in students during academic testing
C	Choline		100% See study	Acute ingestion of choline does not appear to per se influence cognitive capacity
D	Piracetam		100% See study	No significant influence on cognition and neural functioning has been noted in otherwise healthy persons following piracetam ingestion.
D	Pueraria Lobata	Minor	100% See study	A small boost in cognition in menopausal women given the supplement; needs to be replicated and uncertain if it applies to otherwise healthy youth.

References

Hirayama S, et al. The effect of phosphatidylserine administration on memory and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Hum Nutr Diet. (2013)
Parker AG, et al. The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. (2011)
Schreiber S, et al. An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive decline. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. (2000)
Kato-Kataoka A, et al. Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaints. J Clin Biochem Nutr. (2010)
Manor I, et al. The effect of phosphatidylserine containing Omega3 fatty-acids on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial, followed by an open-label extension. Eur Psychiatry. (2012)
Vakhapova V, et al. Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. (2010)
Baumeister J, et al. Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stress. Nutr Neurosci. (2008)
Jorissen BL, et al. The influence of soy-derived phosphatidylserine on cognition in age-associated memory impairment. Nutr Neurosci. (2001)
Kingsley MI, et al. Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active males. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (2006)
Kingsley MI, et al. Phosphatidylserine supplementation and recovery following downhill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (2006)
Engel RR, et al. Double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer type. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. (1992)
Crook T, et al. Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's disease. Psychopharmacol Bull. (1992)
Monteleone P, et al. Blunting by chronic phosphatidylserine administration of the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy men. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. (1992)

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Human Effect Matrix

Scientific Support & Reference Citations

References

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