Alpha BRAIN® Research

The cognitive performance improvements of Onnit’s flagship nootropic were analyzed by two double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trials performed at the Boston Center for Memory.

In the flagship study over 60 subjects were assessed in multiple areas of cognitive function. By the end of the study, the subjects who were randomly assigned to take Alpha Brain for 45 days showed significant improvement (p<0.05) in the areas of executive function, verbal memory and processing speed.†

This trial is one of the first studies of a multi-ingredient nootropic supplement to show improvement in these areas and provides a framework for further nootropic research.† The data has been accepted for presentation at the International Society of Sports Nutrition and future publication.

Though many of the individual compounds in Alpha BRAIN have shown cognitive benefits in prior studies, Onnit aimed to test the complete Alpha BRAIN formula in a population of healthy individuals with above average intelligence.

The ability to recall a long list of words was significantly greater in the subjects who comprised the Alpha BRAIN group. This finding replicated initial data from a pilot study that also showed memory enhancement, amounting to a total of 80 subjects who completed the cognitive testing.†

A randomized subset of subjects from the clinical trial participated in having their brain waves and processing speed measured by electroencephalogram (EEG). Despite the smaller sample size, robust differences were found in the brain wave frequency detected when subjects relaxed and closed their eyes. Subjects who took Alpha BRAIN had a higher frequency peak Alpha Wave, a type of synchronous neural oscillation that reflects a state of calm focus and attention.†

How fast does Alpha BRAIN work?

To answer this question, researchers looked at brain activity of subjects after a single dose of Alpha BRAIN. Subjects were asked to listen and respond to particular target tone and ignore distractor non-target tones. Those who took Alpha BRAIN, after a single dose, demonstrated shorter responses times and higher amplitude electrical activity when performing the task compared to the placebo-controls. In other words, there is evidence that Alpha BRAIN may work after the very first dose. †

Furthermore, when performing EEG tests after 45 days of supplementation, the Alpha BRAIN group continued to outperform the placebo counterparts.† There was a significant improvement in both peak Alpha brain function, a brain wave measure that is often associated with cognitive performance, and linked to the elusive flow state. These randomized, controlled clinical trials reflect Onnit’s dedication to evidence based approaches in health optimization.†

Our studies not only affirm Alpha BRAIN’s effectiveness, but also demonstrates there are tools available to enhance cognitive performance in healthy individuals.† We aim to further our research efforts and improve our understanding on how performance of the mind and body can be maximized.

Other Alpha BRAIN® Ingredients

L-Tyrosine: L-tyrosine is an amino acid precursor that helps the body with the production of the neurotransmitter L-dopa.

L-Theanine: L-theanine is credited as one of the major reasons why green tea is much smoother than any other caffeinated beverage. Closely related to the GABA mechanism and easily absorbed by the body, L-theanine helps to maintain balance in the Alpha BRAIN formula.

Oatstraw (Avena sativa): Oatstraw is a mildly relaxing herb that has a history of traditional use as one of nature's stress-management nutrients.

Phosphatidylserine: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an essential lipid compound abundant within brain cell membranes.

Pterostilbene: An antioxidant naturally abundant in blueberries, this particular compound helps the body with the reduction of oxidative stress.

Vitamin B6: One of the body's busiest vitamins, involved in an numerous biological reactions in the body. One of its primary tasks is to aid in the synthesis of amino acids and neurotransmitters.