Our modern lives require our brains – no matter what age – to deliver well beyond what was expected of us in previous years.
The brain health supplements market has witnessed substantial growth over the past decade, driven by the awareness of cognitive and mental health, the proliferation of ‘nootropics’, product innovation, and a significant investment in research.
According to a 2023 report, the global brain health supplements market was valued at $8.63 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 13% from 2023 to 2030.1
Brain health supplements for all
Brain health supplements contain ingredients that help support cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, learning, and motivation. Alongside these benefits, they often contain ingredients that support mood health.
In terms of brain health concerns in today’s market, consumers seek products that offer both short-term, fast-acting and long-term benefits. While there is a growing interest in consumers searching for long-term, sustainable regimes, they also want to know that the product works either through acute changes or experiential feelings.
The list of those interested in brain health supplements is long and wide ranging. Indeed, buyers come from diverse backgrounds and have various motivations for seeking cognitive mood enhancement.
For example, students are buying products that help them focus, support memory retention, and enhance cognitive capabilities during periods of intensive study, while working professionals are using them to maintain peak cognitive performance, combat fatigue, and manage work-related stress.
Fitness and nutrition enthusiasts, along with athletes, are seeking out brain health supplements mostly to achieve a cognitive edge. The fitness and nutrition enthusiasts, in particular, focus on optimizing physical and mental health and are open-minded when it comes to experimenting with various supplements.
Another more obvious demographic is the aging population. For this group, brain health supplements offer a non-invasive way to optimize brain function and maintain cognitive performance even as they age. As a result, more people are intervening earlier to make sure their brains remain strong well into their golden years.
The goal for aging seniors is not just to extend life, but to live better for longer – and for most people, that goal is highly dependent on their brain health. This is probably why Americans aged 50 and older spend roughly $93 million a month on supplements marketed for brain health.2
And let’s not forget about the double-edged sword of technology. The rise of the digital age and the constant use of technology have led to an increase in cognitive fatigue and attention problems. Many individuals are seeking supplements that can help improve focus, concentration, and overall cognitive performance.
The demand for natural, stimulant-free brain health support
Some of the common brain health enhancers include caffeine, L-theanine, omega-3 fatty acids, rhodiola, ginkgo biloba, phosphatidylserine and nitric oxide boosters.
Caffeine, whether in coffee, energy drinks, or even plants, is the substance with the most history in this area as people have been consuming it in its various forms for millennia. As most people know, this stimulant can improve attention, fight mental fatigue, and improve mood. But it also has its downsides, due to its properties of increased heartrate and caffeine ‘crash’, which is why non-stimulant options hold great promise for the brain health market.
The demand for stimulant-free brain health supplements reflects a segment of the population's desire for cognitive enhancement without the potential side effects or addictive nature of stimulants.
Let's explore why some consumers might prefer stimulant-free options:
- Sensitivity to stimulants Some individuals are particularly sensitive to stimulants like caffeine and might experience jitters, anxiety, or insomnia even with small doses
- Health conditions Those with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications might be advised against taking stimulants
- Diminishing Returns Stimulants like caffeine work, but over time, individuals may have to take more to get the same effects
- Desire for natural enhancement Some believe that enhancing cognitive function without stimulants is a more ‘natural’ approach
A substantiated, non-stim cognitive solution
With the brain health market expanding and catering to more specific consumer preferences, the options for stimulant-free solutions are finding great success. And this is especially true for those ingredients that are backed by clinical research, like nooLVL.
nooLVL is a patented combination of bonded arginine silicate and inositol – a brain boosting combination. Bonded arginine silicate is a bioavailable, long-lasting form of arginine that increases nitric oxide production and blood flow promoting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues, such as the brain. Inositol is a brain-promoting nutrient vital for the functioning of neurotransmitters involved in learning and memory. The combination of these ingredients provides the unique and desirable brain health benefits seen with nooLVL.
The results of two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies3,4 on nooLVL conducted with healthy adults demonstrated:
- Improved cognitive function even under high mental and cognitive demands
- Improvements in visual attention and information processing
- Enhanced memory
- Fast action – working in just 15 minutes, as a non-stimulant to enhance energy
For the future
The brain health supplement market will continue to grow and evolve in the years to come. However, only those ingredients that cater to the modern needs of consumers who are looking for a combination of efficacy, safety, and convenience will find long-term success.
References
2. AARP. Supplements.
3. Tartar, J. L.; Kalman, D.; & Hewlings, S. (2019). A Prospective Study Evaluating the Effects of a Nutritional Supplement Intervention on Cognition, Mood States, and Mental Performance in Video Gamers. Nutrients, 11(10), 2326.
4. Sowinski, R.; Gonzalez, D.; Xing, D.; et al. (2021). Effects of Inositol-Enhanced Bonded Arginine Silicate Ingestion on Cognitive and Executive Function in Gamers. Nutrients. 13(11):3758.
