Understanding How Nootropics Improve Cognitive Function and Mental Clarity
If you’re looking for a mental performance boost to power through your workday, improve cognitive function, elevate your mood, or add some extra energy to your workouts, should consider a nootropic supplement.
Commonly referred to as cognitive enhancers, nootropic supplements contain substances that are considered to improve numerous aspects of cognitive functions, such as decision-making, concentration, focus and memoryÂą.Â
The term nootropic is derived from the Greek words “noos”, which means “to mind or thinking” and “tropein”, which means “to monitor or guide”.Â
The term was coined by Romanian psychologist and chemist Cornelius E. Giurgea in the early 1970s and is used to describe any specific substance that has been proven to improve cognition and support healthy brain function².
Growing scientific support
As the popularity of these products has soared, more research has affirmed their potential benefits. For instance, a study¹ conducted in 2023 found that taking a nootropic “resulted in significant improvements for the experimental group when performing information processing tasks”.
When researchers look at the effects of nootropics on young healthy adults³, they found that “an acute ingestion of a dietary multi-ingredient nootropic enhances cognitive performance in comparison with placebo without negatively influencing HR (heart rate) or HRV (heart rate variability).”
These results were witnessed across multiple cognitive tasks, including processing speed, inhibitory control, spatial working memory, and cognitive flexibility.Â
Those taking the nootropic supplement also showed “higher creativity and positive emotions and lower sadness-depression emotions”. However, there were no differences between the nootropic and placebo groups in verbal fluency, motivation, or anxiety.
Combined ingredients
These products typically combine various natural ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals and herbal substances to boost brain function, improve focus, enhance memory and stimulate some extra creativity. They may even help manage and deal with everyday stress.Â
For example, Biogen Mental Lift™ contains Bacopa, N-acetyl-l-carnitine, N-acetyl-l-tyrosine, CDP-Choline, Rhodiola, L-theanine, ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, phosphatidylserine, and B vitamins (B6 and B12).
Nootropic products typically blend vitamins, minerals, and herbal substances to enhance brain function, focus, memory, and creativity while helping to manage stress. Added adaptogens help to increase energy and improve stress resistance.
It is the ideal product to enhance cognitive function, alertness, mood and motivation to boost productivity and perform at your best throughout the day.Â
Rest and reset
When it’s time to wind down from your busy and productive day, Biogen Mental Reset is another nootropic product that can help calm the body and mind and promote restful and restorative sleep.
Biogen Mental Reset contains a combination of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and herbs, including nacopa monnieri, Passionflower, magnesium oxide, ashwagandha, L-theanine, Gotu kola, chamomile powder, B vitamins (B5, B6 and B12), vitamin D3 and zinc oxide.Â
This formulation may facilitate learning ability and improve memory function and cognitive performance and may also support sleep in cases of restlessness or insomnia due to mental stress.
Boosting the effect
We can also bolster the effects of nootropic supplements with other products that complement their effects and support cognitive function by supporting the brain and nervous system.Â
For example, 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is a chemical that your body makes from tryptophan, an essential amino acid found in certain foods like turkey, cheese, and bananas.
Your body converts 5-HTP into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood regulation, sleep, appetite, and pain sensation, and also promotes neural regeneration, which creates new cells and tissue to repair the nervous system.
Because it does not directly boost cognitive function, a product like Biogen 5-HTP Neuro is not considered a nootropic. However, its ability to support mood enhancement and reduce anxiousness can create a more conducive mental state for learning and cognitive tasks.
Similarly, Biogen Vitamin B Complex Boost effervescent tablets may promote cognitive function by supporting healthy nerve function and neurotransmitter production, while helping to reduce fatigue.
Biogen Vitamin B Complex Boost can also support your energy-yielding metabolism with ingredients like guarana to temporarily promote alertness and wakefulness while the B complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and folic acid) help to reduce tiredness and fatigue.