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If you're referring to “supplements” like Prevagen, don't waste your money. Prevagen claims to improve memory. I always wonder how one can evaluate improved memory. Do you take a pill and all of a sudden recall your phone number? Prevagen's maker has never submitted its clinical studies for peer review, and because it claims to be a supplement, doesn't require FDA approval. Incidently, the FTC is suing the maker of Prevagen for false and unsubstantiated claims that Prevagen could treat conditions such as head injuries and Alzheimer's disease. 

Remember, those you see on TV extolling the virtues of the product are paid for their testimonials. You will notice that the commercials never have a disclaimer stating that the product is not for use with dementia patients. I believe that this is the precise population they are keying on to sell this bogus product.

For the price of $40-50 a month, you'd be better off spending that money on beer and pizza.
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NobodyGetsIt Jan 2021
"sjplegacy,"

I remember years ago sitting next to a couple in their 50's in a busy lab waiting to get bloodwork done. Somehow we got on the topic of memory boosters. They said they both take Prevagen which at the time I had never heard of. They swore that both of them noticed an improvement even though they said it was quite expensive.

Sometimes, I think it's all in their head (no pun intended) and they want to believe there's a "magic pill" along with the clever claims put out by the makers.

There was a time I was tempted to try it but, never did. We still should go by the saying "If it sounds too good to be true, it is" and if it were so, we'd all be using it and no one would ever have memory issues again.

We just had the pizza and wine last night - worked for us!
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Rely on science, NOT advertising. The science, as I have found it, is “iffy” at best.

I’ve found some fairly strong research about oily fish, cacao, and resveratrol. I take them. I am NOT a scientist, I am a musician and a speech therapist.

DO NOT take my word as fact. Do your own research, then decide.

If financial security helps maintain brain health, the people who sell the pricey supplements must have very good brains. The rest of us? Not on my dime.
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There is little research and NO testing of vitamin and supplements. IMHO they do little. And how would testing be done to prove or disprove them? Basically the best thing you can do is keep active, keep moving, keep an interest in life and in hobbies, challenge you mind in numerous ways and eat a fairly balanced diet low in fats, sugars.
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Milosmom56, the way I think about any of those pills that are shown on TV, not FDA approved, if such a pill really did work, it would be making front page news.
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It depends what you mean by supplements, and why you are taking them.
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https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dont-buy-into-brain-health-supplements

Prevagen seems to base their claims on a single clinical study (and this is not to say it was conducted "FDA"-style, or by an independent lab). The study was conducted between 2009-2011 and the report was published in 2016. Old data and nothing since.

Prevagen also claims "#1 Pharmacist recommended". This means nothing. They don't know anything more than what's in that old report. Everything else is anecdotal.

People want to fix things with a pill and Big Supplement knows this. They are all for-profit yet don't need to prove that their products work, unlike pharmaceuticals. And there is no accountability should their product make someone sick or kill them (which does happen and I know 2 people who did). Please know that pharma companies have all dipped their toes into supplements, only to find there are no studies that prove they really work. Big Supp is just unethical snake-oil salesmen, worse than Big Pharma any day. The jury is still out on CBD because there haven't been enough long-term studies.
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No, most are not but you could have a vitamin d deficiency. A doctor can test you for it.
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