6 Best Nootropics for Memory: Forget About Forgetfulness in 2023

As we get older, both our body and brain function begin to decline. This can lead to a decrease in our alertness, concentration, mental performance, and especially our memory. However, there is a solution that can help maintain your brain health.

Also known as memory supplements or smart drugs, nootropics are a class of drugs that not only combat age-related cognitive decline but also improve your mood and allow you to remember things you might otherwise have forgotten.

To help you choose from the wide variety of products on the market, we’ve put together a guide to the 6 best nootropics for memory. Read on to discover the pros and cons of each, as well as how they may be able to help keep your favorite memories crystal clear.

Discover more: Best nootropics in 2023

The 6 Best Nootropics for Learning and Memory

Approximately 40% of people aged 65 or older suffer from age-related memory loss, which equates to around 16 million people in the US. 

Many nootropics have proven to effectively enhance cognitive function and help protect memory as we age. Keep reading to find out which smart drugs are the best on the market for this purpose.

#1 NooCube – Best overall

NooCube is an all-in-one nootropic designed specifically for busy working people with deadlines, parents, athletes, and older people. It contains a combination of amino acids, pro-brain vitamins, and natural herbal ingredients to promote good brain health.

The award-winning Lutemax 2020 ingredient that’s included in the supplement contains powerful nutrients with antioxidative properties. 

These nutrients support areas of the brain responsible for information processing, preventing inflammation, and helping to maintain your memory. 

NooCube’s primary ingredient is alpha GPC, a chemical that increases levels of acetylcholine in the brain. When the brain has a good supply of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter, its cells are able to communicate more effectively, supporting cognitive abilities such as focus, learning, and memory. 

The chemical may also be effective as a treatment for vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, although research is still ongoing.

Overall, NooCube is the best nootropic supplement for preventing cognitive decline, supporting memory retention, and boosting cognitive performance in general.

Read further: NooCube review: How can it boost your brain?

#2 Mind Lab Pro – Best for brain performance

Mind Lab Pro’s “universal” V4.0 formula provides a range of cognitive performance benefits through its stack of 11 plant-based ingredients.

What’s great about this nootropic is that it contains no proprietary blends, meaning that all individual ingredients and their doses are made clear on the packaging. This means that you’ll know exactly what you’re putting into your body and brain. 

Taking the recommended 2–4 capsules per day provides you with 250mg of citicoline per serving, an ingredient that has been shown to improve age-associated memory loss in healthy elderly populations.

It also contains natural ingredients such as Bacopa monnieri, a herb with antioxidative properties that protect against free radical cell damage. Studies have shown that treating subjects with this herb may reverse signs of memory impairment.

Lion’s mane mushroom stimulates the production of a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF). This is important for maintaining the functioning of neurons within the brain, which help regulate memory and mood.

#3 Noobru Advantage – Best for mental clarity

Launched in 2020, Noobru Advantage is a relatively new addition to the nootropics market. 

The supplement contains 11 active ingredients, with the doses being fine-tuned by medical doctors to provide an effective formula that helps improve mental clarity and boost mental performance.

Ashwagandha is a key ingredient within the nootropic, with evidence to suggest that, along with supporting weight loss, it could enhance cognitive function for older adults with mild impairment or dementia.

Studies show that ashwagandha has antioxidative effects, which help prevent age-associated damage to the brain while improving memory, attention, and information processing speed.

Noobru Advantage also contains sulbutiamine, an artificial chemical that has been found to boost the formation of long-term memory. 

However, in 2019 sulbutiamine was added to the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that it may not be lawful to include it in dietary supplements and should be taken with caution.

#4 Nooceptin – Best for stress and anxiety 

According to the manufacturer, Nooceptin is an effective, natural substitute for prescription drugs and other nootropics that contain synthetic ingredients.

The nootropic contains a unique blend of clinically-backed ingredients that are designed to support learning, memory, and problem-solving. They do this by increasing neurotransmitter levels and promoting neuron growth in areas of the brain that are most associated with memory.

Alongside ingredients such as lion’s mane extract, citicoline, and Bacopa monnieri, Nooceptin contains ginkgo biloba, which is extracted from a plant native to China. 

The compounds within this extract increase the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells, which helps to boost memory, learning, and mental energy when taken consistently. 

Another key ingredient is Panax ginseng, which recent clinical studies have shown to cause improvements in memory due to its effectiveness in reducing anxiety.

It has also been found to be a good brain enhancer in older people with mild cognitive impairment.

#5 Brain Pill – Best for memory

Brain Pill is loaded with 13 nootropic ingredients that are designed to deliver all-day focus while clearing brain fog, improving memory, and supporting overall brain health.

Like many of the other top nootropics, Brain Pill’s main ingredients are Bacopa monnieri and citicoline, both of which can enhance cognitive function. 

It also contains a vitamin B complex, including B5, 6, and 12, which work together to provide you with good brain health.

Vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, is vital for generating energy, and deficiency in this nutrient has been linked with neurodegeneration and dementia.

Research shows that vitamins B6 and B12 are important for quick memory recall, processing speed, and good working memory. 

The company claims that you should begin to see the benefits of the powerful nootropic blend after 30 days of consistent use, although this can vary from person to person.

#6 Hunter Focus – Best for focus

As a brand, Hunter Focus has two decades of experience in the supplement market and provides one of the top nootropics for adults over the age of 30. 

Hunter Focus contains 20 ingredients that are separated into 3 key benefits designed to keep you at the top of your game, which are concentration activation, mood amplification, and memory matrix. 

Alongside organic lion’s mane mushroom and Bacopa monnieri, the nootropic also contains Rhodiola rosea extract. 

As well as helping to reduce fatigue, this plant has been shown to lower cortisol levels and increase alertness. High cortisol leads to elevated feelings of stress, a factor that can determine the effectiveness of your working memory.

Take 6 capsules per day of the supplement, and Hunter Focus claims that you should begin to feel the effects after 3 months.

Comparing the Best Nootropics for Memory

How to Choose the Best Nootropics for Memory 

When reviewing any type of supplement, it’s important to test them against a variety of factors to help you decide whether or not they are worth the investment. 

We ranked each nootropic based on its performance in 4 categories, which are explored in more detail below.

Quality 

All the ingredients included in the top-ranked nootropics are natural and of high quality. We looked at the quality and usefulness of the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and plant extracts in improving memory and cognitive function, as well as overall brain health.  

Price 

The best nootropics tend to be relatively expensive, as they are made with a range of natural, high-quality ingredients. We tried to find a balance between quality and price to ensure the products are available to a wide customer base. For many users, the benefits that they gain from the supplements outweigh the price. 

Also, many nootropics brands offer “subscribe and save” deals that allow you to order their products on a rolling basis so that you’ll never run out.

Brand reputation 

Nootropics brands with good reputations tend to sell high-quality products that genuinely help to boost brain function. They should also be transparent about the ingredients they use and provide good customer service when things go wrong.

Effectiveness

Most brands selling brain-boosting supplements will claim that theirs is the best for improving your brain function and memory. However, it’s important to explore these claims in more detail and see whether each ingredient within the nootropic is backed up by scientific research. 

FAQs 

Conclusion

Nootropics can help improve brain health overall. Many are scientifically proven to provide benefits for memory and may even protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Try to choose nootropics that are made with natural, stimulant-free ingredients, such as plant extracts, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. NooCube, Mind Lab Pro, and Noobru Advantage are among the best nootropics to support a healthy brain and boost your mood.

If you are taking any other prescription medications, be sure to speak to your doctor to rule out any potentially dangerous interactions with nootropics.