Boosted brain health from just two active ingredients?
Given celebrity proponents like Alton Brown and Mayim Balik, those that struggle with memory recall or focus might be wondering if cognitive supplements like Neuriva are worth trying.
Is there any validity to claims that Neuriva is “backed by science” and “clinically proven” to improve brain performance? Despite a 2021 lawsuit levied against the makers of Neuriva disputing these claims, there is some truth to the contents of Neuriva benefitting the brain.
This is because both active compounds in Neuriva have demonstrated some efficacy in trials and research studies when it comes to improving functionality and working memory. That being said, Neuriva is not a silver bullet.
Neuriva also lacks many of the potent ingredients (or synergistic ingredients) found in comparable nootropic blends/products that advertise the same ‘end goal.’ These include things like citicoline.
We’ll take a closer look in our Neuriva Brain Health
What is Neuriva?
Neuriva is a neurocognitive
Neuriva purports their product to help with 5 pillars of cognition:
- Focus (“zoom in and filter out distractions”)
- Memory (“record and recall stored information better”)
- Learning (“retain and integrate new information”)
- Accuracy (“react with greater speed and precision”)
- Concentration (“stay on task longer”)
- Reasoning (“think and understand things in a logical way”)
Is Neuriva a Nootropic?
Nootropics are also commonly referred to as “smart drugs,” or “cognitive enhancers.” They can either be natural or synthetic substances that are claimed to improve cognition, memory recall, attention, motivation levels, creativity, or help to boost one’s mood.
Thus, Neuriva can be said to function as a nootropic.
Caffeine is likely the most commonly consumed ‘nootropic’ across the globe, with coffee consumption completely normalized as part of daily ritual.
Previously, nootropics had become a huge subject of focus for scientific research in addressing cognitive/memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease.
There are a number of “natural” nootropics that have been utilized for decades. These include herbal or botanical extracts of ginkgo biloba, american + korean ginseng, and bacopa.
Other types of nootropics include cholinergics (alpha-GPC, choline bitartrate, and citicoline), racetams (piracetam, aniracetam, phenylpiracetam), amino acids (theanine and glycine), and CNS stimulants (nicotine, caffeine, amphetamine, modafinil).
Most nootropics are not regulated by the FDA – meaning claims about the efficacy of products for cognitive health could very well be falsified.
You also don’t know exactly what kind of concentration of compounds will be present in the
While some studies claim that there is not enough evidence to prove safety and efficacy for people with “healthy” brains – there is clear evidence that the two primary ingredients in Neuriva are supported by science as potential options for addressing cognitive decline and memory loss.
Neuriva Active Ingredients
There are two active ingredients in Neuriva’s standard or “Original” version of the
We won’t touch on this because we feel it unnecessary, given the little extra benefit to be derived from these. B-12 is also pretty commonly supplemented by those with an interest in neurocognitive function. Other B-vitamins like folate and B-6 can be easily obtained through a healthy diet.
The previous formulation of the “Plus” product seemed much better – with the inclusion of l-theanine and French melon extract.
When it comes to the “Original” formulation, the two active ingredients are:
“Neurofactor” (coffee fruit extract) and “Plant-Sourced Sharp PS” (phosphatidylserine).
Coffee fruit extract is made from the antioxidant rich fruit of the coffee cherry, which is decaffeinated. This supplemental extract has been shown to increase levels of the neuroprotein BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and as such, strengthen the connections between brain cells to improve cognition. BDNF is strongly correlated with ‘neuroplasticity.’
One study indicates a very clear improvement in reaction time and performance on accuracy tests.
Phosphatidylserine is an essential lipid proven to clinically support learning and memory. Phosphatidylserine is an important structural component of cell membranes that can be naturally produced by the body or taken in supplemental form.
This is often considered a safe ingredient/additive, and has been shown to improve memory function in elderly populations.
Furthermore, numerous studies back the benefit of phosphatidylserine to “slow, halt, or [reverse] biochemical alterations and structural deterioration in nerve cells.”
Phosphatidylserine is required for healthy nerve cells and myelin – supplemental PS has thankfully been shown to be efficiently absorbed. As such, this ingredient in Neuriva can support cognitive function (consolidation of long-term memory + working short-term memory) and the ability to more accurately/easily learn new information or recall learned information.
Who Manufactures Neuriva?
Neuriva is manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser (RB), who is perhaps most well known for the brands Veet, Airwick, Clearasil, Lysol, Durex, and Woolite.
They have been known for decades as a packaged goods company, primarily geared towards personal hygiene and home care products. In 2012 they ventured into the
Both primary ingredients are derived from two separate companies.
The whole coffee fruit extract is labeled as “Neurofactor.” This is a product of Momence-based FutureCeuticals. They operate within the health and wellness industry, and have a number of branded products.
The second ingredient, phosphatidylserine, is branded under “Sharp PS.” This is manufactured by the Isreali company Enzymotec – for which the company claims there is more than “50 studies backing the [benefits] of the ingredient.”
The chief ‘scientific officer’ for Reckitt Benckiser (Dirk Hondmann, PhD) states “the science backing of the chosen branded ingredients will be a differentiating factor for the
Neuriva Dosage
Some might want to avoid taking Neuriva close to bedtime, as some users have reported a stimulatory sort of effect – likely from the coffee fruit extract. However, the coffee fruit extract in Neuriva does not contain any caffeine content, so taking it closer to bedtime should not cause any sort of issues falling asleep.
Don’t expect Neuriva to give you any sort of cognitive ‘rush’ or boost of alertness, as it contains no caffeine, ginseng, or guarana.
The dosage of both coffee fruit extract and PS (phosphatidylserine) are 100 mg per capsule, which is the studied therapeutic dosage for benefit.
Neuriva recommends taking one (1) capsule daily.
They recommend avoiding use of the product if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or currently on any other sort of medication.
Neuriva Results – Is it Actually Effective?
When it comes to consideration of online reviews – there are a number of ways to interpret and look at the data. Generally, Amazon or user-generated reviews hold more water than those done by third-party companies or YouTube vloggers, as these could just as easily be paid for promotions by the company.
Customer Reviews & Feedback
Across platforms like Google, WebMD, Amazon, and Reddit – Neuriva generally ranks well, but people expecting quick, short-term results often leave reviews indicating disappointment or dissatisfaction with the product.
One review reads: “My memory has improved so much. Things now come to me faster. I’m taking [it] to see if it improves my memory as Alzheimer’s runs in my family. So far it has.”
The person writing this review has been on the
To provide some more perspective, another Google review from someone claiming to take the
This is not to say that Neuriva does or does not work. It is simply our position to provide an unbiased look at the user feedback available online for the product, so you can better educate yourself.
The Bottom Line on Neuriva
While Neuriva is likely to help improve cognitive performance and brain performance in those with slight cognitive decline, especially considering both ingredients are accurately dosed – it would be difficult to recommend the product fully given the price point and lack of other vital brain boosting ingredients.
At the same time, those who have no issue paying $40 USD for a month’s supply might get some long-term benefit out of taking Neuriva (6-12+ months of use).
Both ingredients have proven effects on cognition and brain health.
We also cannot say with certainty why it doesn’t seem to work for some individuals.
Those individuals may have highly specific deficiencies or chronic inflammation that needs to be addressed with an entirely different type of botanical, lifestyle adjustment, prescription medication, or compound.
For those considering Neuriva, it might be worth trying. Just don’t expect any changes overnight. You won’t find that kind of efficacy from a