1. Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola rosea is a supplement derived from the herb Rhodiola rosea, which is often used in Chinese medicine to promote well-being and healthy brain function. It's thought to help improve mental processing by reducing fatigue (Source). Likewise, people taking Rhodiola rosea have been shown to benefit from a decrease in fatigue and improvement in their brain function (Source).
2. Acetyl-L-Carnitine
Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid produced naturally in your body. It plays an important role in your metabolism, particularly in energy production. Taking acetyl-L-carnitine supplements has been claimed to make you feel more alert, improve memory and slow down age-related memory loss (Source).
3. Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa monnieri is a medicine made from the herb Bacopa monnieri. It's used in traditional medicine practices like Ayurveda for improving brain function. It's been shown to improve thinking skills and memory, both in healthy people and in elderly people suffering from a decline in brain function (Source).
4. Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine is a type of fat compound called a phospholipid, which can be found in your brain (Source). It's been suggested that taking phosphatidylserine supplements could be helpful for preserving brain health (Source). Healthy people who take phosphatidylserine supplements of up to 400 mg per day have been shown to have improved thinking skills and memory (42Trusted Source, 43Trusted Source).
5. Resveratrol
Resveratrol is an antioxidant that occurs naturally in the skin of purple and red fruits like grapes, raspberries and blueberries. It's also found in red wine, chocolate and peanuts. It's been suggested that taking resveratrol supplements could prevent the deterioration of the hippocampus, an important part of the brain associated with memory (Source). Additionally, one study on a small group of healthy older adults found that taking 200 mg of resveratrol per day for 26 weeks improved memory (Source).