Prevagen Review: Does It Really Work?

The idea of a sharper brain, clearer thinking and improved clarity is enticing.

Who would not love that?

Well, if you have been watching TV, you have come across ads on Prevagen, a dietary supplement that claims to improve memory and sharpen the mind.

This supplement targets baby boomers with this claim on the official website:

‘Prevagen is a dietary supplement that has been clinically shown to help with mild memory problems associated with ageing within 90 days of use’.

It does so through a protein found in jellyfish.

How much truth is in it?

We have prepared an in-depth Prevagen review to find out.

Read more: 4 Best Brain Enhancement Supplements Reviews

Prevagen is a memory enhancer that promises to support memory and brain health through improving concentration and reducing levels of calcium in the brain.

It is marketed with that claims that it has been clinically shown to improve memory loss.

It is manufactured by Quincy Bioscience of Madison.

Prevagen is made of the following ingredients:

Apoaequorin

This is the active ingredient in this dietary supplement.

Apoaequorin is a protein extracted from jellyfish that is used to improve brain health and improve memory.

It aims at reducing high calcium levels in the brain that cause cell ageing and death.

It is made to be absorbed by the brain without being broken down.

There is very limited information on the meta-analysis study of apoaequorin, making it difficult to determine what to expect after taking it.

Also, there are limiting factors to determine its safety, making it hard to analyse in response to brain health.

Other ingredients

• Cellulose
• Microcrystalline Cellulose
• Salt
• Magnesium Stearate
• Water

Prevagen works through its active ingredient apoaequorin.

It releases calcium and protein that is important in improving brain function and enhancing sleep quality.

The calcium released helps to reduce age-related mental decline.

Additionally, protein helps to enhance healthy brain cells, therefore reducing memory loss.

Here are the benefits listed on the official website.

• Enhances mental function in older adults: research shows that taking 10mg of the active ingredient daily for 3 months improves mental function.
• Reduce Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis development: research shows that taking 20 to 40mg of apoaequorin before bedtime and 20mg every 2 and 3 waking hours may reduce the development of ALS.
• Improves sleep quality: research shows that taking 10mg of apoaequorin daily for 3 months may reduce night awakenings by 50 % and increase sleep duration with an hour each night.
• Increases memory: research shows that taking the active ingredient daily will increase word recall, and reduce forgetfulness.

The manufacturer recommends that one capsule of Prevagen should be taken daily in the morning.

You can take with or without food.

Brain enhancements should be taken at least 3 months to realise results.

Apoaequorin does not have enough information backing up its safety.

Here are some probable side effects.

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness

We found that some users reported the following side effects:

• Anxiety
• Headache
• Difficulty sleeping
• Nausea
• Memory problems
• Dizziness

Jade17601 experienced some negative reactions.

Here is what she wrote on ConsumerLab.

After the end of the second week […], I tried to sit up the left side of my body. Involuntarily fell back to bed. I didn’t think much of it, so I sat up again, but the same thing happened. I started to get worried, so I tried to get up again slower this time, and yet again fell to my left side. I waited a few minutes before trying once more, and thankfully, this time, I was able to sit up without falling back down.

Then, when she was able to rest her feet on the floor, this happened.

[…] I started to feel very nauseated and was perspiring heavily. Sweat started to drip down my face, and I have never been more scared since I didn’t know what was happening to me. I was alone at the time too.

After a short while, she felt better and started walking but began experiencing vertigo.

[…] I began to experience vertigo (this was a first for me, just as the rest of this experience was). Then moments later, I don’t remember for how long, I felt better and was able to walk normally, and the nausea feeling was gone. I blamed the Prevagen […] not sure if I had a mini-stroke or not.

Here are some warnings and precautions to take.

• Consult your doctor before taking Prevagen.
• Be cautious when using other medication alongside Prevagen.
• Do not use Prevagen if pregnant or breastfeeding.

In the past, the FDA warned the manufacturer; Quincy Bioscience against claims that Prevagen could be used as a treatment for head injuries and Alzheimer’s disease.

Also, they were cautioned against failure to report the associated dangerous health risks such as strokes, seizures, worsening multiple sclerosis, tremors, chest pain and fainting.

Moreover, the FDA raised concerns over the use of apoaequorin, stating that it is a synthetic protein, not a dietary supplement.

Again, the manufacturer is currently facing legal complaints in federal court from FTC and the New York Attorney General over clear cut fraud.

In January, FTC filed a suit claiming that the promises made by the company ought to be backed up by actual scientific evidence.
Here some complaints obtained by FTC.

Made in June 2016

The consumer provided correspondence concerning Prevagen – Short Memory Supplement Spot marketed by Quincy Bioscience LLC. The correspondence also points out the following; In 2012, the FDA warned Quincy that (a) several claims made for Prevagen were illegal, (b) clinical trials it had sponsored were illegal because they lacked FDA approval, (c) the company had failed to report adverse reactions to its products adequately, and (d) the company had been unable to comply with various Good Manufacturing Practices.

The company has not responded to this accusation.

Prevagen has received massive reviews, both positive and negative.

Of 159 customer reviews on Amazon, 47% are giving it a 1-star rating and 27% are giving it a 5-star.

The overall rating of the product is 3.2 stars out of 5 stars.

Here are some reviews on Amazon.

Let’s start with the negative ones.

Paul Dolata wrote on Amazon.

I had great hopes for this product. After 3 weeks of daily use, I find no change in my mental or cognitive capability. As an observer, my spouse agrees with his statement. Save your money. I could have taken my wife out for a cheap meal with the money I spent on this placebo.

Chris says on Amazon:

Well, I have to say that my month’s supply of Prevagen is almost gone and I felt absolutely NOTHING! I was hoping to feel more alert along with maybe some improvement in memory, but I feel no difference. To me… not worth the money.

How about the positive ones?

S.A Nitz says he used to get 2-3 headaches every week, but after taking Prevagen, they have reduced significantly.

Here are his sentiments on Amazon:

I decided to try this product for migraine headaches after the recommendation of a friend. I have tried many, many things for my headaches and I am still using many other treatments, but the addition of Prevagen seems to have been the final key that has allowed me to be on the path of pain free stretches, something I was not sure I would ever have again […] Now I am getting 2-3 per month! If you suffer from migraines, I think this product is worth a try.

John added on Amazon:

Prevagen has changed my life. I have a herniated disc in my lower back and a bone spur in my neck. I have suffered through aches and pains for several years. I started taking Prevagen about 1 1/2 months ago and have had a SIGNIFICANT reduction in pain. I also noticed that most nights, I am sleeping through to the morning without waking up once (another 1st for me). Finally, I find myself having a good energy level at the end of the day. These benefits might seem small to some but have made all the difference in my life.

Prevagen can be purchased from the official website: www.prevagen.com.

It comes in chewable form and capsules.

The packages are either ‘Regular strength’ or ‘Extra strength.’

See below how the official site looks like.

If you are not satisfied with Prevagen, you can request a refund 45 days after purchase.

The company requires you to have the original receipt and original bottles, including unused products.

This offer is only available to 50 United States and D.C only.

Some users have reported that Prevagen worked for them.

We can say that it has been seen to help individuals with mild memory loss.

However, Prevagen is not FDA approved and is facing several accusations on false claims and failure to report adverse side effects experienced by users.

Would I recommend it?

Probably not, It may help with better cognitive function, but with the reported shortcomings, it may not be your best shot.

We laid out the facts, will you buy Prevagen? Comment below and tell us what you think!

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