5 Natural Wonders for Improved Memory and Focus
By Dr. Kevin Passero
Life can be hectic, and it's not uncommon to feel mentally overwhelmed by the never ending demands of life. This is a very common complaint I get from many of my patients.
As the overwhelm builds, many of us experience a degree of physical and mental fatigue that leave us feeling foggy-headed and mentally exhausted. Being overtaxed not only decreases our physical and mental energy levels, but states of overwhelm significantly decrease our ability to focus and our memory recall.
Fortunately, there are effective and safe natural remedies that can help you overcome mental fatigue and brain fog while at the same time supporting your body through physical stress.
In this article, we explore five of these powerful ingredients—Bacopa extract, Phosphatidyl Serine, Lion’s mane mushroom extract, Rhodiola and vitamin B12—and discuss specifically how they work to improve your memory, mental clarity and focus.
1. Bacopa Extract
This a popular herbal supplement derived from the bacopa monnieri herb. This herb has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries to help improve cognitive function, reduce stress levels and enhance memory recall.
It contains compounds that promote neuron communication in the brain by increasing the growth of important brains cells called dendrites. Bacopa extracts have been shown in human clinical trials to speed learning, enhance memory and improve mental performance in a broad range of younger and older adults.***
It has also been shown to reduce cortisol secretion and prevent the depletion of dopamine and serotonin in the brain during chronic stress. In one double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial, bacopa not only improved cognitive scores in older people with memory loss but also significantly reduced anxiety.
Bacopa has potent antioxidant activity that helps protect nerve cells from damage due to stress or aging which helps keep our brain sharp and focused year after year.
2. Phosphatidyl Serine
This amino acid derivative that is found in high concentrations in the brain where it provides essential support for cognitive functioning.
While made by the body and found in the diet, supplementation with phosphatidyl serine has been shown to be effective at increasing levels in the body and effectively crosses the blood-brain barrier.
It supports brain activity by safely slowing, halting and reversing biochemical alterations and structural deteriorations that impair nerve cell activity. It has been shown to improve both short-term and long-term memory, the ability to form new memories and the ability to focus, concentrate and learn new information.*
In a double-blind study on elderly patients with severe cognitive declines, the administration of phosphatidyl serine compared to placebo yielded significant improvements in the storage, learning and retrieval abilities of memory in addition to improvements in cognitive function.*
Further, it helps support healthy brain cell communication by helping maintain nerve cell membranes and the protective layer around nerves, called myelin, which is critical for the transmission of nerve signals.
3. Lion’s Mane Mushroom Extract
This is a time-tested natural remedy for improving mental function and helping the body cope with stress.
This mushroom has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to boost energy levels, improve overall cognition, reduce anxiety and even treat depression symptoms.
Studies show that lion’s mane mushroom extract may help protect nerve cells from damage caused by oxidative stress while also promoting new nerve cell growth which could lead to improved cognitive functioning over time. In a recent study, researchers found that neurons exposed to extracts of lions mane grew twice as long as the control neurons not exposed.
Additional trials are underway right now for other neurological disorders associated with aging. Beyond its ability to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) Lions mane was shown in a placebo-controlled trial to reduce anxiety after just 4 weeks of regular use.*
4. Rhodiola Rosea
This is a medicinal herb with a long history of use for supporting enhanced physical and mental performance under times of stress as well as improving energy levels and decreasing feelings of stress.
There is a wide body of research dating back four decades supporting the adaptogenic effects of rhodiola. Studies show that not only does it work systemically to improve the stress response via pathways related to balancing cortisol, but it also interacts directly with our cells to modulate cellular stress-response signaling.*
These broad effects throughout the body likely account for why rhodiola receives excellent scores in the published research for its ability to improve cognitive performance.**
In one double blind cross-over study, rhodiola was shown to significantly enhance mental performance in 56 young, healthy physicians during night duty.*
According to research, an additional benefit of rhodiola is that it can help to significantly reduce feelings of fatigue when taken regularly.
5. Vitamin B12
This essential vitamin plays an important role in maintaining healthy cognitive function because it plays a critical role in nerve health.
B12 is essential for the nervous system, particularly in regards to myelin synthesis, nerve metabolism and neuronal regeneration.*
In fact, vitamin B12 deficiency is linked to impaired cognition and memory along with a sensation of tingling and numbness, both an outcome of poor myelination of nerves.*
One prospective study of 107 people age 67-87 years showed those with lower B12 levels had significantly more of a decrease in brain volume than those with higher B12 levels.*
The researchers suggested that low vitamin B12 status should be further investigated as a modifiable cause of brain atrophy. Due to the complex process of absorption, the body’s ability to absorb B12 tends to significantly decline as we age.*
This makes supplementation with B12 something everyone should be thinking about as they age, to support optimal cognitive function and a healthy aging brain.
My All-In-One Memory, Focus and Mental Energy Solution
If you’re looking for ways to feel more focused during your day without relying on stimulants like caffeine or sugar, then you need to consider one or more of these amazing natural herbs and nutrients for improved mental and physical performance.
Not only do they provide natural energy boosts without raising your heart rate or blood pressure like some other stimulants might, but they also provide additional benefits such as reducing stress levels and protecting nerve cells from damage due to aging and oxidative stress!
If you think you may benefit from taking more than one of these natural remedies, I encourage you to learn more about my Durable MEMORY® formula.
