Vitamins for the brain, attention and memory for adults, for schoolchildren and children: a review of the best drugs and products

Home » Beauty and health » 6 best vitamins for brain function and memory: 3 for adults and 3 for children

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16.04.2020

What is the best vitamin for brain function and memory? What kind of composition should it be? After all, one single vitamin for memory and brain function in adults or children usually does not help much. Therefore, to improve mental activity and reduce fatigue, whole complexes of such medicines are used. Let's see which of them and in which cases are most effective.

What vitamins support brain function and improve memory?

All the main vitamins for the mind affect brain function to one degree or another, but each of them affects different areas of brain activity:

B1 - has a beneficial effect on the brain centers responsible for cognitive processes and memorizing information. If there is a deficiency, it may be difficult to recall even short-term memories;
B2 - activates mental activity, improving the access of energy substances to the nervous system. Deficiency leads to increased fatigue;
B5 is the main stimulator of long-term memory, improves the passage of nerve impulses. With a deficit, it is difficult to remember a large amount of information;
B6 - stimulates thought processes. The deficiency causes fatigue and neuroses;
B9 - improves nerve conduction, increases the speed of reaction to stimuli. Necessary for active mental activity related to the exact sciences;
B12 - is responsible for the general tone of brain activity. If there is a deficiency, sleep is disturbed and it becomes more difficult to stay alert during the day;
C - protects the body from excessive stress during high loads (including mental). A lack of ascorbic acid leads to a decrease in brain activity, attention, and memory;
E - participates in the regulation of mental activity, removes toxins. Deficiency leads to disturbances in thinking and perception, and the overall tone of the body decreases.

Why even think about your brain in advance?

In modern times, the majority of reasonable and prosperous people (not alcoholics, scumbags, etc.) began to live much longer than a couple of decades ago. If previously it was usually good to live to 60, now we can safely count on 80-90 years of life. Of course, you shouldn’t cling to this deadline and you can die at any second, but it is advisable to take this into account.

So, it is very likely that we will live 80-90 years (or more).

What is the likelihood that we will live, learn, and benefit others at 70, 75, 80 years old? According to modern statistics, it is small. And the point is not in the physical condition of the body, but in the fact that our brain will cease to function normally and we will become more and more vegetable - sitting on the couch consuming the usual entertainment (TV series, games, etc.), forgetting ourselves and losing the opportunity to learn new things and do anything at all.

Alzheimer's disease is the leading cause of dementia in older patients. In America, 4.5 million suffer from the disease, and by 2030, as the baby boomer generation ages, that figure could rise to 9 million. Proof https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27570871

For older adults over the age of 65, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is 10%, but once you reach the age of 85, this risk increases to 50%. Within the interval, the risk increases proportionally.

But even without this disease, there are other disorders and severe decreases in our cognitive ability - forgetfulness, confusion, Parkinson’s, etc. Often, even at 50 years old, we no longer remember where the keys are, we keep to-do lists, glue sticky notes on monitors, etc. .

Personally, I am not satisfied with this fate and I would like to be active until my death, learn new things, study, and be useful. Therefore, if there are ways to reduce the risks of improving brain function right now, then I think it’s worth taking an interest in.

As the book states, this requires very little and, moreover, the necessary actions will bring benefits right now - they will make us more cheerful and smarter.

OK, I bought it, you say. What is needed for this? To do this, you need to start taking care of your brain. How? The answer is simple - you need to study what is needed for his health and do what you have learned.

Below I will select supplements and vitamins that you can start taking right away. Of course, before doing this, you have studied whether there are any contraindications for them. I would also recommend starting to read books on this topic and gradually get into the subject. It takes a little time and you can do it instead of a TV series or a newspaper or other usual way of wasting time.

In addition to taking supplements, it is advisable (necessary) to study which habits are useful and which are harmful. And implement it into life smoothly and without kinks or tension. But in this article I have not yet covered this part.

I publicly promise that if there is interest, I will write within 2 weeks. Just write in the comments that someone is interested in this and I will do it.

How to take it correctly

You should not think that vitamins are harmless substances, the dosage of which is of secondary importance. The dosage is especially important for schoolchildren: drugs for children will not have much effect on them, and vitamins for brain function and memory in adult dosages can cause damage to health.

If you or your child has allergies, pay special attention to the fillers, colors and flavors in the composition.

When taking antibiotics, the effect of group B microelements is weakened. Increasing their dose will lead to hypervitaminosis.

Who wrote the article?

I have long been studying modern methods of improving brain performance and prolonging life. I am not a doctor and I have no professional education, that is, everything is written based on reading books, articles, personal experience and common sense.

I am a programmer in life, I am interested in yoga (for a long time and seriously, one of the founders of a yoga shala in St. Petersburg) and the philosophy of Buddhism. Higher education in mathematics from St. Petersburg State University, mathematician. That is, I would like to hope that the author’s mind is logical, which can weed out obvious nonsense.

Fish oil and vitamin D are very important for both the brain and body, minerals and protein are important for the long-term health of the body. It is advisable to take it for those over 30 years old.

Our channels

The complete method of life extension in our wiki

About the laws of memory

There are some patterns that can quite justifiably be called the laws of memory. Scientists have proven their correctness through numerous studies.

The law of interest - its essence is that a person always remembers information that truly interests him much faster and better.
Law of repetition - data is easier to remember if it is repeated several times.
The law of comprehension - after information has been deeply comprehended and thought about, it is better stored in memory.
The law of the edge is that the information that was heard at the very beginning and at the end is better “embedded” in the memory.
The law of inhibition - if there is a need to remember similar concepts, then the old data will be “overlaid” by the new ones.
The law of optimal length - the amount of data that needs to be remembered should not exceed the capacity of short-term memory.
The law of context - it is much easier to remember things if they are associated with concepts that are already familiar to a person.
The law of actions is that what a person puts into practice is more effective and easier to remember.
The law of installation - in order to remember certain data easier and faster, you need to give yourself a clear instruction to do so.

All these rules can and should be applied in practice - if there is a need to quickly remember something. It is also advisable to use them for memory training.

Indications

Vitamin complexes recommended for school-age children are prescribed for:

Decreased intellectual abilities.
Problems with doing homework.
Memory deterioration.
Problems with concentration.
Poor appetite.
Irrational menu.
Seasonal lack of vitamins in food.
Long-term treatment with medications (especially after antibiotic therapy).
Frequent colds.
Recovery after an acute illness.
Increased stress in sports.
Preparation for exams and olympiads.

When you need support

Dietary supplements are recommended to be taken regularly by adults after 40-50 years of age. At this age, the blood supply to the brain begins to gradually deteriorate.

Taking vitamins and herbal preparations will be useful:

under stress, overwork;
after severe intoxication;
if you have bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse);
during the recovery period after injuries, concussions;
with weather sensitivity.

Why does memory deteriorate?

Many people at a certain period in their lives begin to complain that they have poor memory. Its deterioration may be due to various reasons. And the answer to the question of how to improve memory also depends on the factors that negatively affected it.

The reasons for this phenomenon may be the following:

Organic brain lesions - traumatic brain injury, acute cerebrovascular accident, tumors.
Diseases of other systems and organs - blood vessels, heart, liver.
Changes in the brain associated with human age – a decrease in the number of connections between neurons.
The influence of external factors - stressful situations, negative environmental influences, poor sleep, sudden changes in living conditions, etc.
Chronic intoxication – drug use, smoking, alcoholism, substance abuse, excessive intake of a number of medications (tranquilizers, sedatives).

conclusions

Thus, the most correct approach to the problem of improving memory is to train it independently using a variety of methods and contact a doctor who can prescribe additional medicinal methods.

But this is justified provided that the doctor takes an individual approach to the problem and professionally determines the advisability of using certain means. The specialist must also assess the severity of the effect of a particular drug.

Under no circumstances should you be guided by the advice of friends or recommendations in reviews on the Internet. Those who feel that their memory is deteriorating should see a neurologist. He will help you identify the problems that cause this to happen and tell you how to eliminate them.

The best complexes from pharmacies

Among the first on the list was Vitamin D or calciferol, which prevents the formation of cancer cells and also preserves the quality and strength of the blood vessels in the brain center.

The second most necessary is a component from group E or tocopherol. It protects the central nervous system from contamination by toxins.

According to statistics, people with optimal levels of tocopherol acetate in the body are more protected from Alzheimer's disease than others.

Well, the next health component, but not the last, is Bioflavonoid. Vitamin P – prevents hemorrhages, protecting capillaries and blood vessels from rupture.

Next, we will consider the best drugs for adults that allow you to improve the functions of the brain and neurons, restore memory and improve your mental state in a short period of time.

TOP 10 best vitamin complexes for improving memory, brain function and the entire nervous system as a whole, which are suitable for both adults and adolescents:

Vitrum memory - improves blood circulation and strengthens the walls of blood vessels in the brain tissue, which promotes oxygen saturation and makes the mind clear and quick. Excellent prevention of headaches.
Griffonia – improves the functioning of the nervous system, normalizes the sleep cycle and helps fight depression.
Direct - an accessible herbal complex that accelerates the transmission of signals along nerve cells.
Supradin is a multivitamin universal drug that replenishes the daily requirement of all nutritional components necessary for the functioning and protection of the brain.
Gerimax Energy – contains ginseng extract, which stimulates long-term memory. Allows you to easily endure heavy mental stress even with a lack of sleep.
Guarana – prevents the spread of free radicals that block brain function and ensures normal production of red blood cells and their flow to brain cells. Relieves symptoms of fatigue and increases perseverance.
Fish oil is a simple and effective remedy for preventing clogged arteries. Stimulates mental development in adolescence, reduces aggression and improves memory even in old age.
Encephabol - restores metabolic processes and enhances the uptake of glucose from food to nourish the brain. It is effective even in the presence of pathological and age-related changes - sclerosis and absent-mindedness.
Piracetam – increases the resistance of the central nervous system to toxic effects and oxygen starvation. It has a complex effect on the brain and improves the learning process.
Phenibut – reduces the manifestations of cognitive disorders, stress, nervousness and fear. Calms the central nervous system and helps to concentrate before important events.

There is an indicative rating of the 10 best vitamins for the brain and memory, without age or gender differences. Rating based on data from the Quality Mark website.

Vitrum Memory (885 rubles). The best natural corrector for cerebrovascular disorders.
Glycine Forte (30 rubles). The best dietary supplement of domestic production in terms of price and quality ratio.
Quick Mind (427 rubles). The best product with a high concentration of active substances.
Memoplant (490 rubles). The best complex for correcting age-related changes.
Doppelhertz Active (1,200 rubles). The best composition of components in a vitamin complex.
Tanakan (528 rubles). The best drug for ease of administration.
Gerimax Energy (471 rubles). The best tonic complex.
Bilobil Forte (156 rubles). The best anti-stress complex.
Undevit (39 rubles). The best complex with an evidence base for long-term results.
Divaza (306 rubles). The best homeopathic complex.

Should it be used to strengthen the immune system?

It should be noted that the student’s immune system is indeed subject to high stress and should be supported with vitamins. The diet of a school-age child should contain sufficient sources of vitamin C and vitamin A, as well as vitamins E and D. It is these vitamins that play the greatest role in protecting the body from attacks by viruses and bacteria.

If it is not possible to ensure the supply of such compounds with food, you can resort to the use of special complex vitamins, for example, giving your child VitaMishki Immuno+ or Immuno Kids from Multi-Tabs.

Komarovsky's opinion

A well-known pediatrician calls vitamins substances important for a child’s health, but he is sure that an ordinary child does not need pharmacy vitamin complexes. Komarovsky suggests that parents more carefully monitor the child’s diet so that all the necessary vitamins enter the child’s body with food.

As for improving memory, the popular doctor reminds that this function should be trained by studying poetry and other activities, and not at all by taking vitamins.

source

General information

Modern pharmacology offers a fairly wide range of drugs to improve memory. However, experts have radically different opinions about how effective various memory enhancing drugs are, and whether they are worth taking for those who want to improve cognitive function.

There is no benefit from such drugs, their effectiveness is nothing more than a myth born as a result of active advertising. Moreover, there are opinions that such drugs can be addictive and have a negative effect on the body.