Brain Health Preservation Through Neuroprotection and Phosphatidylserine
In the realm of brain health and nootropics, phosphatidylserine (PS) has emerged as a compound of significant interest. Numerous clinical trials and key studies have investigated the effects of this phospholipid on cognitive function, particularly in relation to age-related cognitive decline.
Phosphatidylserine exhibits antioxidant properties, protecting the brain from oxidative stress, and plays a key role in modulating the activity of various neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin. This makes it a potential candidate for preserving cognitive abilities into old age.
One notable clinical study involved 149 patients, showing that PS can slow, halt, or even reverse age-related cognitive decline by improving brain cell membrane function, which supports neuroplasticity and memory formation. Another trial with 18 male athletes demonstrated that PS significantly increased cognitive function prior to exercise and helped maintain mood and hormone balance after physical stress, indicating benefits to cognitive resilience under stress.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 36 children aged 4-14 diagnosed with ADHD but untreated before, found that daily supplementation with 200 mg of PS over 2 months improved ADHD symptoms, short-term and working memory, and mental performance.
Reviews and clinical evidence affirm that PS helps maintain neuronal membrane fluidity and integrity, facilitating nerve signal transmission. This mechanism supports memory, learning, attention, and mood, especially in the context of age-related cognitive decline in older adults.
A clinical trial assessing a combination supplement including phosphatidylserine (Neuriva Original) in healthy adults with self-perceived memory problems found improvements in cognitive domains such as memory, focus, concentration, and learning after 42 days of treatment, measured by computerized cognitive tests and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.
To summarize key features consistent across these studies:
| Study Population | Study Design | Intervention | Cognitive Effects Observed | |------------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Older adults with cognitive decline (n=149) | Clinical study | PS supplementation | Slowed, halted, or reversed cognitive decline; improved neuroplasticity and memory support[1] | | Male college athletes (n=18) | Randomized placebo-controlled | PS supplementation | Increased cognitive function before exercise; preserved mood and hormone levels post-exercise[1] | | Children with ADHD (n=36) | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled | 200 mg PS daily for 2 months | Reduced ADHD symptoms; improved short-term and working memory[1] | | Healthy adults with self-perceived memory problems (n=12) | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled | PS combination supplement for 42 days | Improved memory, focus, concentration, and learning; increased plasma BDNF[3] |
Overall, evidence from multiple clinical trials supports phosphatidylserine's efficacy in improving cognitive function related to age-associated decline, likely through maintaining neuronal membrane health and enhancing neural signaling. It also shows benefit in cognitive conditions like ADHD and may help protect cognition under stress or exercise.
No major conflicting data emerged, and PS is generally well-accepted in literature as a cognitive support phospholipid, especially in older adults experiencing memory and attention decline. However, large-scale long-term randomized trials focusing solely on healthy aging populations remain limited but promising.
This synthesis is based on clinical trial data and reviews published up to August 2025. Significant findings have been reported in areas such as memory enhancement, stress reduction, and the slowing of cognitive decline. Clinical trials have provided compelling evidence regarding phosphatidylserine's positive impact on cognitive function, leading to improvements in memory, concentration, and learning abilities. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of phosphatidylserine on brain health.
- In the domain of brain health and nootropics, phosphatidylserine (PS) has become a compound of considerable interest due to its potential role in learning, attention, and memory.
- One study involving 149 patients demonstrated that PS can slow, halt, or even reverse age-related cognitive decline by improving brain cell membrane function, which supports neuroplasticity and memory formation.
- Another trial with 18 male athletes showed that PS significantly increased cognitive function prior to exercise and helped maintain mood and hormone balance after physical stress.
- In a study on children aged 4-14 with ADHD, daily supplementation with 200 mg of PS over 2 months improved ADHD symptoms, short-term and working memory, and mental performance.
- Reviews and clinical evidence confirm that PS helps maintain neuronal membrane fluidity and integrity, facilitating nerve signal transmission, which is essential for focus, concentration, and mood.
- A clinical trial assessing a combination supplement including phosphatidylserine found improvements in cognitive domains such as memory, focus, concentration, and learning after 42 days of treatment.
- Phosphatidylserine exhibits antioxidant properties, protecting the brain from oxidative stress and playing a key role in modulating the activity of various neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, dopamine, and serotonin.
- The mechanism by which PS operates supports brain health and mental health, making it a potential candidate for preserving cognitive abilities into old age, managing neurological disorders, and treating medical conditions related to health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and mental-health.
- Therapies-and-treatments, nutrition, and healthy-diets all play a role in maintaining brain health, and phosphatidylserine supplementation can be one approach in this multidimensional strategy.
- As research continues, it is expected that more benefits of phosphatidylserine on aging, neurological disorders, and cognitive resilience under stress or exercise will be discovered.
- It is crucial to consult with healthcare professionals to understand the potential interactions between PS and other medical-conditions or medications, especially when considering long-term use or in combination with other supplements or therapies.