A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group, efficacy study of alpha BRAIN® administered orally.

Todd M Solomon, Jarrett Leech, Guy B deBros, Cynthia A Murphy, Andrew E Budson, Elizabeth A Vassey, Paul R Solomon

Journal: Human psychopharmacology 2016;31(2):135-43

PMID: 26876224

Full Text on Ovid Technologies, Inc. View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Alpha BRAIN® is a nootropic supplement that purports to enhance cognitive functioning in healthy adults. The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of this self-described cognitive enhancing nootropic on cognitive functioning in a group of healthy adults by utilizing a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled design.

METHODS

A total of 63-treatment naïve individuals between 18 and 35 years of age completed the randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. All participants completed a 2-week placebo run in before receiving active product, Alpha BRAIN® or new placebo, for 6 weeks. Participants undertook a battery of neuropsychological tests at randomization and at study completion. Primary outcome measures included a battery of neuropsychological tests and measures of sleep.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, Alpha BRAIN® significantly improved on tasks of delayed verbal recall and executive functioning. Results also indicated significant time-by-group interaction in delayed verbal recall for the Alpha BRAIN® group.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of Alpha BRAIN® for 6 weeks significantly improved recent verbal memory when compared with controls, in a group of healthy adults. While the outcome of the study is encouraging, this is the first randomized controlled trial of Alpha BRAIN®, and the results merit further study.

Address: Boston Center for Memory, Newton, MA, USA.; The Memory Clinic, Bennington, VT, USA.; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.; Onnit Labs LLC, Austin, TX, USA.; The Memory Clinic, Bennington, VT, USA.; Boston Center for Memory, Newton, MA, USA.; The Memory Clinic, Bennington, VT, USA.; Boston Center for Memory, Newton, MA, USA.; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.; Boston Center for Memory, Newton, MA, USA.; The Memory Clinic, Bennington, VT, USA.; Williams College, Williamstown, MA, USA.

DOI: 10.1002/hup.2520

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/dietarysupplements.html

Other Literature Sources:

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Administration, Oral, Adolescent, Adult, Dietary Supplements, Double-Blind Method, Executive Function, Humans, Mental Recall, Neuropsychological Tests, Nootropic Agents, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Sleep, Speech Perception, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult