Prevagen for Memory: Uses, Side Effects, Effectiveness - GoodRx (2024)

Where did I put the car keys? Did I lock the door before I left the house this morning? What did I walk into this room for?

We all ask ourselves these types of questions from time to time. But even though occasional episodes of forgetfulness are normal, people sometimes worry that these are signs of something more serious like Alzheimer’s disease. Close to 7 million people over 65 years old in the U.S. currently live with this condition, and experts believe this number will nearly double by 2050.

With these numbers, it’s no surprise that people want to do everything they can to prevent memory loss. And, it’s not just older adults. Many younger adults experience “brain fog” for a variety of reasons, including depression, stressful life events, and COVID-19. So it’s common for people of all ages to look for ways to boost their memory, focus, and other brain functions.

One over-the-counter (OTC) product that has gained popularity is Prevagen, a supplement marketed to support brain health. But does Prevagen actually work for memory loss? And what side effects does it have?

What is Prevagen?

Prevagen is a brand of OTC supplements that come as oral capsules or chewable tablets. Each version contains 50 mcg (2,000 units) of vitamin D3 and varying amounts of apoaequorin, a protein found in certain types of jellyfish.

There are a few different versions of Prevagen available:

• Prevagen regular strength capsules and chewable tablets (orange and mixed berry flavors): 50 mcg vitamin D3 and 10 mg apoaequorin per pill

• Prevagen extra strength capsules and chewable tablets (mixed berry flavor): 50 mcg vitamin D3 and 20 mg apoaequorin per pill

• Prevagen professional formula capsules: 50 mcg vitamin D3 and 40 mg apoaequorin per capsule

Good to know: The makers of Prevagen also offer a protein shake mix called NeuroShake. But this product does not contain vitamin D3. Instead, it contains protein, calcium, and phosphorus. It also lists apoaequorin as an inactive ingredient (an ingredient that doesn’t contribute to its medicinal actions in the body). This article will only be discussing Prevagen oral capsules and tablets.

What is Prevagen used for?

Prevagen is used for its supposed memory benefits. But specific reasons are as unique as the people who take it. In a survey of adults ages 50 and over, the top reasons that people took Prevagen and other brain health supplements include:

• To boost or maintain memory

• To improve or maintain focus and concentration

• To delay dementia

What is the typical Prevagen dosage?

The Prevagen dosage recommended on the supplement facts label is the same for each version. You should take one capsule or tablet by mouth once a day in the morning. You can take it with or without food. Prevagen’s manufacturer recommends taking it for at least 90 days (3 months) to decide if it’s working for you.

Prevagen side effects

The safety of Prevagen hasn’t been well studied. So experts don’t know all of the supplement’s possible side effects or how common they are. But the information we have suggests it’s well tolerated.

Reported Prevagen side effects include:

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Memory problems

• Trouble sleeping

• Nervousness

• Raised blood pressure

Prevagen ingredients: What’s in Prevagen and how does it work?

Research on Prevagen is limited, so there are still a lot of questions regarding how it is absorbed by and works in the body. In order to explain what we do know, we have to discuss the possible role that each of Prevagen’s active ingredients might play in brain health.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a nutrient our bodies make when we’re exposed to sunlight. It’s also found in many foods, including salmon, eggs, and mushrooms. Vitamin D is essential to help our bodies properly absorb and use calcium — a mineral necessary for healthy bones and muscles. While some studies suggest that taking vitamin D supplements may help prevent various chronic conditions, none are conclusive.

Regardless, scientists keep researching if this vitamin has other benefits. A study from 2017 found a possible link between moderate or severe vitamin D deficiency and visual memory loss. The study authors noted this finding does not mean low vitamin D levels cause memory loss and called for further research in this area.

Other studies have focused on whether vitamin D supplements can help improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. One of these studies did notice better cognitive (brain) function after 12 months of taking vitamin D. But most of this research found no significant difference between those who took vitamin D and those who didn’t.

Based on these and other similar studies, some OTC manufacturers promote taking vitamin D to prevent memory loss. But overall, the evidence doesn’t support this claim.

Apoaequorin

As mentioned earlier, apoaequorin is a protein found in a type of jellyfish. In laboratory experiments, apoaequorin acts similar to a protein in our bodies called calmodulin. Calmodulin is thought to play a role in memory, although research on it is limited. This is the reasoning behind Prevagen’s choice of ingredient.

One concern with placing apoaequorin in a capsule or tablet is that there may be problems with how it is absorbed. When you consume a protein by mouth, your stomach and pancreas quickly start working together to break it down and digest it, rather than absorbing it. This makes creating successful oral protein-based medications very difficult and is the reason why many of these medications are injectable only.

Like other dietary supplements, Prevagen isn’t required to undergo testing to show exactly how it works in the body after you take a dose. So, there’s a possibility that the apoaequorin may be broken down while in the stomach instead of absorbed, leading to questions of how it can reach the brain to help with memory loss.

Does Prevagen really work for memory loss?

In short: Prevagen is unlikely to work for memory loss. But we don’t have enough high-quality evidence to say for sure. Keep in mind that the FDA hasn’t approved Prevagen for memory loss or the prevention of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

The manufacturers of Prevagen claim that regular use of their product can help with mild memory changes that are considered to be a normal part of getting older (meaning not due to a medical condition like Alzheimer’s disease). It is not intended for people with moderate or severe memory loss.

Keep in mind that according to the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission, OTC supplement manufacturers are not supposed to make claims saying they can treat, cure, or prevent illnesses or chronic conditions. Prevagen’s manufacturer, Quincy Bioscience, has actually been investigated by both organizations over the years for misleading advertisem*nts and for stating their products have been “clinically shown” to work.

Is there any scientific evidence supporting Prevagen’s claims?

The evidence to support Prevagen’s use is limited and flawed. Quincy Bioscience published a small study in 2016 comparing 10 mg of apoaequorin per day to placebo (a pill with no medication in it) for 90 days. All study participants self-identified as having memory problems at the beginning of the study, but none had any serious memory loss conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

At the end of the study, people taking apoaequorin had higher scores than those taking placebo on some of the tests used to measure their overall memory. The study authors noted the difference between the two groups was significant, and Quincy Bioscience — who also sponsored the study — has been using these results to back up Prevagen’s claims.

But there are a few issues with the study. First, it only included a little over 200 participants and only ran for 90 days. This number of people is smaller than what we typically require when trying to prove a medication is effective for the general population. Also, conducting the study for only 90 days means we don’t know the long-term safety or effectiveness of Prevagen.

It’s also good to know that for some of the tests, people taking a placebo had significantly higher scores than the group taking apoaequorin. This suggests that the supplement may not have had any effect on memory at all. The supplement being studied also wasn’t one of the currently available Prevagen formulations. So that makes it even trickier to say how the study results apply to what’s commercially available.

Another problem with this study is the types of tests the researchers used to test memory. None of the cognitive assessments used in this study are standard tests used by healthcare professionals to look for and diagnose memory loss conditions. Using a non-standard test makes the results difficult to interpret, so we can’t say for sure just how effective Prevagen is.

Is Prevagen FDA approved for memory loss?

No, Prevagen is not an FDA-approved medication and should not be taken if you have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Dietary supplements like Prevagen do not require FDA approval to be sold OTC, as long as they do not make claims to treat, cure, or prevent medical conditions. This typically means testing on how safe and effective they are and what medications they interact with are limited.

Are there any FDA-approved memory supplements or treatments?

There are currently no FDA-approved OTC memory supplements or pills available. But a large clinical trial found that the multivitamin Centrum Silver helped significantly improve three areas of cognitive health in older adults:

• Overall cognitive function

• Episodic memory (recalling information about specific past events or memories)

• Executive functioning (cognitive skills that help you plan and complete daily tasks)

This 3-year clinical trial was conducted with over 2,200 adults ages 65 and older who had no history of serious cognitive problems, such as dementia. The greatest cognitive improvements were seen in participants who also had a history of heart disease (a risk factor for developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease).

Keep in mind that Centrum’s manufacturer helped fund this study. And while these clinical trial results are promising, Centrum Silver isn’t FDA approved to prevent memory loss.