Research · Neuroscience · Safety
Follow developments in nootropics and brain research with their sources and limitations. We explain what a new finding says, and what it cannot establish.
128 published articles
Research
In 47 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, a 24-week Mediterranean-diet intervention changed several plasma metabolites; some metabolite changes correlated with cognitive scores. Correlation does not establish cognitive benefit.
Regulation
The August 17 version of FDA Import Alert 54-15 includes a new listed supplier; its kratom detention mechanism predates 2026 and applies to specified imports.
Research
A six-month trial in 105 older adults at risk of undernutrition and cognitive decline found improved nutritional status and small neurocognitive-score differences in diet-counseling groups versus a leaflet control.
Research
A feasibility trial tested bread delivering an extra 10 g/day of prebiotic fibre in older adults with low habitual fibre intake; it was designed to assess feasibility and preliminary outcomes.
neuroscience
After induced hibernation in mice, selected memories persisted despite loss of more than half of hippocampal synapses; clustered memory-linked connections were preferentially retained.
neuroscience
TIMP2 deletion worsened several age-associated microglial measures in mice, while treatment in aged mice shifted inflammatory profiles and phagocytosis. These preclinical findings do not show cognitive benefit or establish a safe human intervention.
Research
A University of Wisconsin announcement described a gut-bacterial metabolite associated with cognition in people and Alzheimer-like changes in experimental models; the paper itself was published June 26.
Research
A 12-week trial in 68 selected Japanese adults reported a small verbal-memory signal for scallop-derived plasmalogens; longer-term effects remain unknown.
Research
A 12-week creatine study in 64 completers described cognitive findings as exploratory, while exercise and diet participation was self-selected.
neuroscience
A single brief contact with sticky tape produced later avoidance in mice and corticostriatal plasticity; disrupting the endocannabinoid pathway impaired learning. The new aversion task is an animal model, not evidence of human memory enhancement.
Research
In a small randomized pilot, six weeks of remote meditation and breathwork reduced Parkinson-related anxiety versus a wait-list group; the study focused on anxiety, not cognition.
neuroscience
A study of 230 postmortem brains linked glycogen-related structures with Alzheimer tau pathology, including changes seen at early pathological stages. The tissue analysis cannot establish which changes came first or whether changing diet would help.