Our enthusiasm for a quick cognitive fix knows no bounds. In 2021 we spent £5.5 billion globally on brain-boosting supplements – and that figure is expected to double by 2030. Supplements promise to lift brain fog, increase mental agility, grow new neural pathways, boost memory, prolong focus and concentration – even stave off dementia. The problem is there’s no solid evidence that they work.
Some studies estimate that only about 10 per cent of the supplements we swallow are absorbed – mostly through the small intestine – but the quantities vary according to our individual gut ecosystems. “Supplement chemistry is complex and we still don’t know how much actually reaches the brain,” says Professor James Goodwin, a founder member of the Global Council on Brain
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