Historically, supplements like ginseng, curcumin, ginkgo and omega-3s have been among the go-tos for supporting cognitive health.
However, the explosion of newer, science-backed ingredients gives end-users a wider field of nutrients and delivery options to help delay cognitive decline and boost memory, recall and learning.
“Because the market is still immature and the science is evolving, there are still plenty of ways to differentiate new product entries. Emerging science is leading to lots of new discoveries and correspondingly to additional varied and nuanced claims,” explains Alternative Laboratories’ Cooper.
Scholey says there are two emerging trends around ingredients for cognitive health.
The first is functional food-based delivery systems and the second is novel combinations of ingredients which target different processes known to underpin brain health. For starters, he points to a commercially available functional RTD beverage featuring blackcurrant, l-theanine and pine bark extract said to support mood, cognition and immune function.
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