By Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
I must have seen commercials for Prevagen 50 times: story after story from everyday people who describe improvement in memory once they began taking Prevagen. And perhaps you recall older commercials playing off the idea that many people take supplements that boast of gut, joint, and heart health claims. Those commercials memorably asked, "So why wouldn't you take something for the most important part of you… your brain? With an ingredient originally found in jellyfish! Healthier brain, better life!"
Never mind that the ingredient from jellyfish (apoaequorin) that was supposed to deliver these benefits has no known role in human memory. Or that many experts believe supplements like this are most likely digested in the stomach and never wind up anywhere near the brain.
Can a supplement actually improve memory? If it doesn't work, why is the manufacturer allowed to suggest it does? And if apoaequorin is so great, why aren't jellyfish smarter (as a colleague of mine wonders)?
A bar graph in the older ads showed a rise from 5% to 10% to 20% over 90 days in "recall tasks," though exactly what that meant was never explained. Nor were we told how many people were studied or given any information about effects on memory after 90 days.
One small, company-sponsored study reported improvements in memory...
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