Youthful Brain Review & Research Results

What Is Youthful Brain?

Youthful Brain is a memory-and-focus supplement from Vitality Now. The brand says it was developed by a former NASA nutritional scientist, but I couldn’t independently confirm that, so I’m sticking to what can be checked in this review. I'll look at the formula, the doses, and my own real-world results. In this review I’ll outline the evidence behind each ingredient and share what I noticed during a full trial, including the product's effects on focus, recall, mental clarity, energy, and any side effects. I'll let you know whether Youthful Brain is worth your money.

How Does Youthful Brain Work?

Youthful Brain is positioned as a brain supplement for people over 45, presumably those who may be beginning (or even deep in the throws) of age related cognitive slow down, or decline. The brand claims to help improve brain function and it claims to be effective in keeping you mentally sharp - by improving mental clarity and focus, as well as enhancing overall brain performance. So far, so good.

However, when it comes to backing up these claims, the detail is conspicuously absent. The brand's website references studies into the products effectiveness, but this seems to be a case of smoke and mirrors. The studies aren't easily accessible and there's no clear outline of their content or findings, let alone any hint of being peer reviewed. Without clear, peer reviewed studies I have to fall back on an assessment of the product's effectiveness based on its ingredient profile (as well as my own experiences when using the product). But, critically the detail of Youthful Brain's formulation isn't available either, as it's hidden behind a proprietary blend, precisely to try and avoid this kind of scrutiny.

Despite this obfuscation, I can make some clear observations. Youthful Brain's total serving size for all of the ingredients is includes is a mere 370mg. That's low, particularly when you compare it to the best brain supplements - ThinkEase for example, has a nearly 3000mg serving size, that's a huge difference. But getting back to Youthful Brain, its 370mg serving size includes just 5 ingredients. In order to be effectively dosed - meaning the amounts used are in line with the amounts shown to be effective in clinical studies - just the Bacopa Monnieri in Youthful Brain would need to take up almost the entire amount. It's therefore clear to me that every ingredient is likely to be severely underdosed, with the exception of Vitamin B12 which is severely overdosed with 41,667% of the recommended daily amount (yes, 41,667%).

Scientific Basis

Youthful Brain's ingredients are logical inclusions, but I have to spell out two clear issues. Firstly the range of ingredients used is extremely limited, with just 5 in total, with the possible exception of Huperzine A (which isn't recommended for sustained use), the ingredients are known cognitive enhancers but only when dosed at levels shown to be effective in clinical trials. That lead to the second issue - the ingredients simply aren't present at the necessary levels, as I'll explain.

Firstly, Vitamin B12 is a worthy addition, but not one to get too excited about. It's possible to get the necessary amount of B12 from a range of dietary sources, most notably meat, eggs and dairy. Alternatively most multi-vitamins will give you a daily top up if needed. Nonetheless, the inclusion of B12 is good to see. It's perhaps worth being aware that Youthful Brain's 1000mg dose is far beyond anyone's daily needs, it's simply unnecessary, but also isn't harmful [1]. B12's role in the brain is critical, both in supporting neurological function and neurotransmitters, however supplementing with B12 will only be beneficial to those already deficient. It's therefore not a bad idea to top up your B12 levels but it's unlikely to lead to dramatic changes.

Let's move on to the ingredients included in Youthful Brain's proprietary blend. Starting with Bacopa Monnieri, we have an ingredient which has been widely studied. It's been shown to be effective in improving memory and cognitive performance, but it requires a daily dose of 300mg to be effective. It's possible that Youthful Brain's 370mg proprietary blend includes 300mg of Bacopa, but it's unlikely given the need to fit 3 other ingredients in the remaining 70mg. 

Youthful Brain also includes Ginkgo Biloba extract in its proprietary blend. It's a proven nootropic which studies have shown can help improve cognitive function, especially for those with cognitive impairment. Critically it needs a 120mg dose to be effective. By definition it's impossible for both Bacopa and Ginkgo to be present at effective levels as the amount required exceeds the total amount in Youthful Brain's proprietary blend.

Next is Phosphatidylserine, best known for its potential to improve memory. Clinical trials have emphasized 100mg dosages, any less than this is unlikely to yield meaningful results. As we've seen it's highly unlikely to be present at this level within Youthful Brain's proprietary blend, rendering its inclusion unbeneficial.

And finally, there's Huperzine A, again best known for its memory support benefits and its role in promoting acetylcholine. In dosage terms not much is needed, so it may actually be present at the required 200mcg dosage. However, sustained supplementation with Huperzine A isn't recommended, it may therefore be present at trace levels, or it may be that Youthful Brain is best taken infrequently for this reason.

Qualitative Review of Youthful Brain's Efficacy

As part of my research and review process, I trialed Youthful Brain for 6 weeks. Having reviewed the label and ingredient profile I didn't have high hopes, for all the reasons I've outlined above. I'm quite used to testing different brain supplements and nootropics and I found the routine of taking two capsules per day easy to follow. Despite my low expectations, I reminded myself of the brand's big promises, to "markedly improve focus, alertness and overall vitality of your mind - and improve mental clarity."

I didn't expect to notice much of a change to any of these areas early on, and I didn't. After a week or so, I perhaps felt a mild improvement in my ability to focus on tasks I usually find it hard to stick to, but I can't be confident that Youthful Brain was responsible, but it's possible. More importantly, the brand's claims to improve clarity and memory weren't matched by my experience, these effects were simply missing, and given the gaps in the product's formulation it was to be expected. I should note that my low expectations may have dampened my perceived experience (an inverse placebo effect if you will), but I tried to remain optimistic and objective throughout.

Estimate of Efficacy Relative To Similar Products

Dosage:

Youthful Brain uses a 2 capsule daily serving size. This is somewhat perplexing as the amount of active ingredients used could be credibly delivered in a single capsule. With a 2 capsule serving size it's all but certain that much of the capsules' volume is comprised of fillers. These filler ingredients are listed on the label as Microcrystalline Cellulose, Dicalcium Phosphate, Croscarmellose Sodium and Silicon Dioxide. These ingredients don't have any benefits to the end user, they may help combine the different ingredients in the manufacturing process, but they are also widely used to 'fill' the capsules up, to make it appear there is more to the product than there really is.

Quality:

Youthful Brain's decision to hide the details of its ingredients from consumers, its underdosing of most, if not all of its ingredients, plus the lack of many proven brain enhancing ingredients means it's challenging to consider it a high quality product. In my view it's poorly formulated and doesn't draw on the scientific evidence behind each ingredient in any meaningful way. Added to which, the brand appears to use fillers to make its product appear more substantial than it really is.

Efficacy:

Compared to more scientifically and comprehensively formulated brain supplements, Youthful Brain fell short. In my experience the results don't justify the cost or the routine of taking the capsules every day, as the results were largely absent. 

Cost:

Youthful Brain typically retails at $17.99 for 60 capsules (Walmart) [2]. It's priced competitively at a superficial level, but in my view offers poor value for money. More premium brain supplements which are better formulated and which use effective dosages of key ingredients present better value for money.

Safety Considerations and Potential Side Effects

Youthful Brain is unlikely to cause significant side effects for most people. The high dose of Vitamin B12 could cause diarrhea in some people and high doses of Vitamin B12 have also been linked to itching. Huperzine A may cause nausea and diarrhea - added to which it isn't recommended for longer-term use.

Overall Assessment

Youthful Brain didn't work in any meaningful way for me personally, but a scientific review of its ingredient profile explains why. Not only does it hide the details of its scant formulation, it's all but certain that all (or certainly most) of its ingredients are dosed in too low amounts to be effective in supporting cognitive function, memory or focus. I also didn't like the gaps in the story and evidence the brand sells. It's research is hard to locate, its founding scientist is equally hard to find.

Overall, I can't recommend Youthful Brain, it doesn't offer enough to make it a worthwhile addition to your supplement regimen. The contrast is especially stark when it's compared to the best products I've tested. The best I've tested is ThinkEase  as it's comprehensively formulated and its formulation is clearly informed by the latest clinical research - and it works.

References and Further Reading

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/are-you-getting-enough-b12#:~:text=Even%20the%20lowest%20doses%20in,yeasts%20are%20fortified%20with%20B12.
2. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Single-Youthful-Brain-Capsules-Youthful-Brain-Clear-Mind-Formula-Capsules/5072343500?classType=REGULAR