“If we have the attitude that it’s going to be a great day it usually is.”
— Catherine Pulsifer
As seniors sought to avoid various age-related memory issues, “memory pills” ushered in the brain-boosting nootropic revolution. The best nootropics for memory are still popular among people over the age of 55 and still provide their potent benefits. Yet, not only older people benefit from them.
The best nootropics for memory are organic bacopa monnieri leaf extract, citicoline, taurine, organic ashwagandha root extract, vitamin b12, and N-acetyl L-tyrosine. Mentioned in no particular order, these nootropics revitalize your memory and improve your cognitive performance. Also, they are bioavailable in their purest form in Maximum Mind. Read on to see their benefits for memory improvement.
Memory nootropics are emerging as dynamic performance enhancers, assisting with academics, socializing, working, competing, and life in general.
This guide discusses the best nootropics for memory and how to use them to get the most out of them.
What Are Nootropics?
“The only difference between the master and the novice is that the master has failed more times than the novice has tried.”
―Stephen McCranie
First things first, what are nootropics? Corneliu Giurgea, a Romanian neuroscientist, coined the term nootropic (pronounced new-tropic) in 1972. He believed that smart drugs should be invented and made widely available for enhancing the general population’s brain health and increase human intelligence.
According to Dr. Giurgea’s findings, nootropics enhance cognition, memory, alertness, concentration, creativity, and attention. They became known as cognitive enhancers, which amplify the way the brain’s many cognitive functions operate and how we process information.
Simply put, cognitive enhancers (or nootropics or smart drugs) are prescription or off-the-counter drugs or supplements that enhance cognition. Some nootropics contribute to brain health, while others can be quite dangerous.
Since Marco’s Grounds only works with safe and natural compounds in their purest forms, we will restrain ourselves to natural nootropics that increase cognition safely for most of our discussions.
What is Memory?
“The only difference between the master and the novice is that the master has failed more times than the novice has tried.”
―Stephen McCranie
Memory is a complicated process of learning that enables us to store new information and retrieve previously acquired information, according to research found in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. [1]
The term memory is derived from the Latin word “memoria,” which means “mindful,” and more, it also means “remembering.” However, this definition is deceptively straightforward. As with other cognitive activities, memory is not a singular entity.
You’re probably aware of the terms short-term memory (also known as working memory) and long-term memory. While this is only the tip of the cognitive iceberg, it is a good location to begin our examination of the brain’s belly.
Short and Long Term Memory
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”
— Charles R. Swindoll
Memory Categories
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
— William James
The brain categorizes memories for ease of access. Each piece of information is kept in one or more of these categories as a memory.
Implicit Memory
Implicit memory is also known as unconscious memory. This memory function draws on prior experience to assist us in recalling abilities and general daily behaviors without having to think about them. We employ implicit memory to distinguish letters, colors, numbers, objects, and language immediately.
Procedural Memory
Procedural memory is a subset of implicit memory and is frequently referred to as muscle memory. Procedural memory is a type of implicit memory used exclusively for motor activities such as walking and eating so that we do not have to think about how to perform them.
Muscle memory is a skill that musicians and athletes excel at. Even if you do not play an instrument, Maximum Mind, the best nootropics for memory, may help you develop a stronger procedural memory.
Explicit Memory
Explicit memory requires slightly more work than implicit memory does. Also known as declarative memory, explicit memory helps recall information that we already know but that requires deliberate thought to access. For most of us, remembering the days of the week is automatic (implicit) since first grade, but remember that your father's birthday is coming up next Friday requires active recollection.
Spatial Memory
Spatial memory is the interpretation and storage of information about our surroundings, and it is necessary for us to navigate the city effectively. In a laboratory context, it is what assists the rat in navigating a maze in search of food. And it's how we navigate a city or drive a car. Both short- and long-term memory contains models of this form of memory.
Semantic Memory
Semantic memory encompasses facts that are widely accepted but are unrelated to human experience. You utilize semantic memory to recall that grass is green, how to drink through a straw, the definition of a cat, and more.
Episodic Memory
In comparison to semantic memory, episodic memory is characterized by intensely personal recollections of a specific event or experience. This sort of memory encompasses emotions, sensory input, time and place, and more details.
Some instances of episodic memories include the birth of your first kid, your recent ski holiday, or your whereabouts on the day 9/11 occurred.
And it is unknown why some incidents are remembered while others are lost; emotions appear to have a key impact in deciding what we remember and forget.
How Memory Works
“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
— Will Rogers
While other memory models have been presented, the stage model has gained the greatest acceptance yet. According to a hypothesis found in Simply Psychology, the brain follows a precise memory formation and retrieval process. [2]
Encoding
External information is initially processed by the brain, which changes it to mental representations. Attention is required for the brain to encode correctly.
If you can't recall where you left your car keys or the name of someone you met at a party, you don't necessarily have a bad memory; you simply failed to encode the information.
Motivation plays a significant role in remembering. The more significant something is to you, the more probable you will remember it. Thus, the best nootropics for motivation can also aid in memory enhancement.
Storage
Where information is stored is determined by the amount of encoding. Three distinct sites can be used to store data.
Working memory lasts slightly longer because it is geared to make use of data that has passed sensory memory. Also known as working memory or short-term memory, this is the information that we are currently focusing on. Working memory can retain up to seven pieces of information for around 30 seconds before discarding or shifting them to long-term memory.
Long-term memory contains the most critical information. With practically limitless storage capacity – up to 100 billion bits of data – it is capable of storing memories for an entire lifetime. We are frequently ignorant of the knowledge preserved in our long-term memory. These memories remain dormant in the unconscious mind until we require access to them. While some of the memories stored here are readily accessible, others may require more work to reach.
Sensory memory is the point at which memory begins. This is the initial stage of forming any memories. Sensory memory is only capable of storing data for a few seconds at most. It is essentially a filter that retains critical information while discarding the rest. If a piece of information is deemed significant enough, it is transferred to working memory.
Retrieval
Access to information is possible only once it has been stored in long-term memory. Memory, as we frequently refer to it, is actually information retrieval. Retrieval is the process by which stored information is reconstructed using the same neurons that encoded it.
However, information may be altered during retrieval, resulting in erroneous or patchy recollections. Best nootropics for memory can enhance memory function, allowing for faster, more accurate memory retrieval.
Long-Term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a hippocampus process that, through repeated stimulation, increases post-synaptic nerve responses, converting learning into long-term memory.
Due to the essential connection between learning and memory, you might be interested in the best nootropics for studying also.
Free Recall
“Life’s like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.”
— Jim Hensen
We can use our ability to store knowledge and then accurately retrieve and articulate memories to make decisions, solve issues, build strategies, and engage with others.
The ability to recall a bunch of items in a random order is referred to as free recall. The memory is easily recalled during instant free recall. Pauses are used to break up retrieval in delayed free recall.
Numerous studies in Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference demonstrate that a slower presentation of individual objects for memory results in superior performance than a faster-paced presentation sequence. [3]
Memory and the Brain
“Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.”
— Unknown
Memory is essentially a collection of digitally encoded neuronal connections. The memory is retrieved by firing the same neurons engaged in receiving and processing the original information.
However, memories do not form inherent wholes, unlike a well-organized filing system or library bookcase. The brain encodes and stores information via various brain mechanisms and locations. From a neurological perspective, Memory resembles an unsolved jigsaw puzzle with parts dispersed throughout our brains rather than a nicely ordered file system.
Neurochemistry of Memory
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”
— Fred DeVito
When psychological components are removed from memory, it is essentially a matter of brain chemicals and receptors.
Good vs. Poor Memory
A healthy memory requires a high release of neurotransmitters from a single neuron and a high concentration of neuroreceptors on the receiving neuron. Whereas impaired memory can be caused by one of the following:
Low neurotransmitters - A low chemical count in the brain generates a low signal.
Dull neuroreceptors - Inhibition of cell-to-cell communication is caused by low receptor activation.
Or:
Both - Inadequate neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor numbers contribute to overall poor connection.
The key neurotransmitter involved in memory is acetylcholine. However, other brain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine may also have an effect on memory consolidation and recall, both directly and indirectly, as stated in research found in Current Opinion in Neurobiology. [4]
Identifying the precise cause of poor memory might be challenging. Is your brain manufacturing insufficient amounts of brain chemicals? Or is it that your brain is not receiving enough of those chemicals? Which substances require assistance? Pinpointing a precise answer to memory problems is as difficult.
Because acetylcholine is a critical brain chemical for memory creation and retrieval, it is commonly understood that nootropics that support this neurotransmitter will improve memory performance.
Hippocampus
The hippocampus is one of the brain’s key memory regions. It is located within the inner folds of the limbic system’s temporal lobe. Because memory and emotion are inextricably linked, it’s unsurprising that the emotionally charged limbic plays a crucial role in memory processing and storage.
Memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease or brain trauma happens when neurons in the hippocampus degrade or are destroyed. According to a study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, a bilateral injury may result in a persistent impairment of the ability to develop and maintain new memories. [5]
Memory Applications
“What is coming is better than what is gone.”
— Unknown
Student Learning
We engage on an exciting voyage of learning from the moment we are born. Memory is crucial for learning, using, and recalling information at all levels, from counting to ten to mathematics.
A strong memory can help us obtain better grades, make friends, get into college, graduate at the top of our class, and land a solid job early in life.
The best nootropics for college students aid in the maintenance of a healthy memory to facilitate learning for example.
Career Development
Memory is critical to professional success. You rely on memory to recall a client’s name, adhere to deadlines, and everything else. Whether you drive or use public transportation to work, you employ hundreds of bits of information.
A healthy memory function can assist you in obtaining employment, obtaining a promotion, obtaining a raise, attracting new consumers, and retaining existing ones. To advance in your job and life, you must maintain a competitive edge. For example, the best nootropics for entrepreneurs can assist you in performing at your best during work.
Competitive Athletics and Games
Competitive athletes require a quick and precise memory that functions well under duress. For instance, in American football, a quarterback must recall his own plan and the routes of all his receivers, analyze all of this information, and choose in around three seconds to be effective. The same is true for all strategy-based sports.
Memory operates similarly in the context of games. For instance, if you’re playing chess, recalling your opponent’s previous performance may provide you with a competitive edge in your current round. Memorizing topography, mazes, and opponents’ strengths and weaknesses can provide a similar edge in video games and esports. The best nootropics for memory are gaining popularity today due to their many benefits.
These cognitive applications reaffirm the need for a keen, active memory in competition.
The Golden Years
The majority of people have age-related memory loss as they become older. However, there is a significant distinction between normal forgetfulness and cognitive impairment, particularly when it comes to quality of life.
Memory Impairment Associated with Age
Age-associated memory impairment is a term that refers to what is considered “natural” brain glitches that occur as we age and are not caused by medical disease. While it may be inconvenient, a normal Memory Impairment Associated with Age is unlikely to hinder your capacity to perform normally significantly.
A senior moment might resemble something like this:
- forgetting where you keep daily-use goods such as your wallet, glasses, or keys
- occasionally missing or mixing names
- inability to pay attention
- inability to remember appointments
- forgetting why you entered a room in the first place
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Maximum Mind as the Best Nootropics for Memory
“Your only limit is your mind.”
— Unknown
Certain nootropics have been shown to improve long-term memory.
Others may aid in the development of working memory. Maximum Mind aids in memory and learning optimization by offering the following brain boosters compounds in their highest purity.
Organic Bacopa Monnieri Leaf Extract
Note: there’s an effective dose of organic bacopa monnieri leaf extract at 50% minimum bacosides, in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more on bacopa on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or find out more about the benefits of bacopa here.
Citicoline
Citicoline is a source of raw choline, which is required to manufacture the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
CDP Choline, or Citicoline, is a dual-action nootropic, combining two critical cognition-enhancing nutrients:
Choline – a precursor molecule for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the phospholipids found on the surface of brain cells.
Cytidine – a precursor of nucleoside uridine, a potent nootropic that has been shown to improve significantly synaptic plasticity and brain energy.
And it is this latter component that possibly makes citicoline the finest cholinergic nootropic available.
Citicoline’s memory-enhancing properties are derived from both choline and cytidine. Choline aids in the management of acetylcholine-related memory issues, so perhaps improving the memory state associated with aging. Additionally, cytidine strengthens the neuronal connection, increases brain activity, and improves memory recall.
Citicoline appears to improve memory in older adults with memory problems, particularly in free recall. A study in Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology asserts that reduced systolic blood pressure was a favorable side effect, implying that citicoline may aid memory by “working on mechanisms of brain neurotropism and cerebrovascular control.” [7]
While other choline donors may contribute to acetylcholine function, Cognizin® Citicoline goes a step further by helping cholinergic memory structures and overall brain health.
Note: there’s an effective dose of citicoline as Cognizin® in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about citicoline on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive and about the benefits of citicoline for brain power here.
Taurine
Taurine has the ability to enhance memory performance.
Taurine is essential in the preservation of the human intellect. With age comes a decrease in brain taurine concentrations, and cognitive scientists are beginning to realize the significance of this. Supplementing with taurine may help slow the deterioration of memory and cognition that comes with growing older.
This amino acid possesses brain-protective properties that can counteract at least some of the cognitive alterations caused by environmental pollutants. [8]
Taurine can be found in a wide variety of foods, and it’s also a popular ingredient in many energy drinks.
Taurine is often referred to as a “wonder molecule” when it comes to nutritional supplements. As such, taurine is one of the best nootropics for memory for all of these reasons.
Note: there’s an effective dose of taurine in its free form at 99% purity in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about taurine on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or dig deeper into the benefits of taurine here.
Organic Ashwagandha Root Extract
Ashwagandha, sometimes known as “Indian Ginseng,” is a typical Ayurvedic Rasayana or medicinal plant element (tonic). Rasayana is considered a vitamin that can assist anyone in improving both their physical and mental well-being.
With its ability to decrease the stress hormone cortisol, ashwagandha is an excellent choice for individuals looking for stress relief and mental sharpness.
A study found in the Journal of Traditional, Complementary, and Alternative Medicines claims that ashwagandha improves cognition and memory as well as the ability to perform daily tasks [9].
Intriguingly, it aids in weight loss as well. Stress-related food cravings can be reduced by taking ashwagandha as well.
Ashwagandha is one of the best nootropics for memory because of its stress-reducing, memory and cognition-enhancing characteristics.
Note: there’s an effective dose of organic ashwagandha full-spectrum root extract, standardized at 10% withanolides, and less than 1% withaferin A in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about ashwagandha on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or dig deeper into the benefits of ashwagandha here.
Vitamin B12
The insufficiency of B12 is connected to memory issues and a lack of cognitive power.
Age-related cognitive impairment can be attributed to a deficiency in B12. Young people, however, can have low B12 levels as well, especially if they follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. The body can’t produce B12; thus, we must rely on food or supplements to supply our needs.
The vast majority of the B12 we get in our diets comes from animal sources. As we get older, our stomach acids become less effective at absorbing B12. B12 cannot be stored in the body; thus, it must be consumed on a regular basis.
Brain blood flow and homocysteine levels are maintained by vitamin B12, which aids in maintaining healthy brain function. Even severe memory loss can result from high homocysteine levels due to imbalances levels of B12.
The long-term effects of low B12 levels on 1,648 people, ranging in age from young to old, were studied in a big, long-term study. “Low vitamin B-12 status was related to more fast cognitive deterioration,” according to the study’s findings in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study’s findings sparked a call for further research into the role of B12 in dementia. [10]
Myelin, the sheath that supports and enhances the synaptic connection between neurons throughout the brain, is produced by B12, which protects the brain. Improved brain connectivity translates to better memory, which is simply information.
Note: there’s an effective dose of methylated vitamin B5, B6, B9 and B12 in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about methylated vitamin B on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive and why you should never consider non-methylated B vitamins.
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT) is a more bioavailable form of L-tyrosine than other forms of tyrosine, allowing for greater supplement absorption.
Although the body produces tyrosine, chronic disorders such as stress, sleep deprivation, and thyroid dysfunction can reduce tyrosine levels.
NALT contributes to the protection of cognitive function by acting as a buffer between neurotransmitters involved in memory and stress hormones that can deplete over time.
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine may be especially beneficial for enhancing working memory under duress.
NALT contains tyrosine, which is required to safeguard catecholamine brain chemicals involved in memory and focus, as seen in research found in Frontiers in Psychology. [11]
Tyrosine has been shown in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior studies to enhance performance under stressful settings. According to one study, L-tyrosine may aid memory for complex performance needs. The findings show that “supplemental tyrosine may be beneficial for preserving performance in the presence of mild to severe decrements.” [12]
Other research in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience has confirmed these findings, demonstrating NALT’s efficacy as a supplement for replenishing cognitive resources required for working memory promotion. [13]
Note: there’s an effective dose of L-tyrosine as N-acetyl L-tyrosine in in each dose of Maximum Mind.
Read more about tyrosine on the Marco’s Grounds Deep Dive or dig deeper into the benefits of tyrosine here.
Conclusion
“One thing’s for sure, if you don’t play, you don’t win.”
— Kylie Francis
This article has demonstrated what memory is, the types, best practices, and best nootropics for memory enhancement.
Maximum Mind provides the best nootropics for memory mentioned above. The combined benefits of these nootropics are phenomenal. These nootropics provide natural brain nutrients to help memory storage and recall: the two most crucial memory processes.
Imagine a healthy memory, capable of turbo information processing and enhanced ability to remember. Shortly said, “imagine your brain firing on all cylinders.” This can be achieved from the 16 pure and bioavailable nootropic supplements in Maximum Mind.
Why not benefit from the best nootropics for memory in their purest form along with other clinically studied compounds for increasing brain and physical performance and health with Maximum Mind?
Literature
- Okano H, Hirano T, Balaban E. Learning and Memory. PNAS. 7 Nov 2000. 97 (23) 12403-12404.
- McLeod S. Stages of Memory - Encoding Storage and Retrieval. Simply Psychology. 2007. Retrieved on 26 Jun 2018.
- Hockley WE. Cognitive Psychology of Memory. Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference. 2008.
- Hasselmo ME. The Role of Acetylcholine in Learning and Memory. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2006 Dec; 16(6): 710–715.
- Scoville W.B. & Milner B. Loss of recent memory after bilateral hippocampal lesions. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psych. 1957. 20 (1): 11–21.
- Stough C, et al. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001 Aug;156(4):481-4.
- Alvarez XA et al. Citicoline improves memory performance in elderly subjects. Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. 01 Apr 1997. 19(3):201-210]
- Access NCBI through the World Wide Web (WWW). (1995). Molecular Biotechnology, 3(1), 75.
- Singh, N., Bhalla, M., de Jager, P., & Gilca, M. (2011). An overview of Ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 8(5S).
- Clarke R, et al. Low vitamin B-12 status and risk of cognitive decline in older adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Volume 86, Issue 5, 1 Nov 2007, Pages 1384–1391.
- Jongkees BJ, Hommel B, Colzato LS. People are different: tyrosine's modulating effect on cognitive control in healthy humans may depend on individual differences related to dopamine function. Front Psychol. 2014; 5: 1101.
- Thomas JR, Lockwood PA, Singh A, Deuster PA. Tyrosine improves working memory in a multitasking environment. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. Nov 1999. 64(3):495-500.
- Colzato LS, Jongkees BJ, Sellaro R, Hommel B. Working memory reloaded: tyrosine repletes updating in the N-back task. Front Behav Neurosci. 16 Dec 2013. 7:200.