Best supplements for concentration

Concentration and memory are the cognitive procedures whose impairment can greatly affect one’s life. They are essential in learning and in performance and when not functioning properly they greatly affect everyday life.

Memory is the ability to store information for later recollection or remembering, while concentration allows focusing on one task without interruption, regardless of the level of distraction.

It is not uncommon that memory and concentration problems occur, especially with age or due to a number of factors. In some cases, however, they can reveal a problem within the brain, the presence of a serious condition like Alzheimer’s disease.

Causes and symptoms

Problems with memory and concentration can be caused by chemical imbalance in the body, pollutants in air or soil which penetrate the body through breathing or food, or by deficiency due to improper diet.

Some lapses in memory and concentration are considered normal but they can indicate a serious problem if they affect everyday activities and performance. For example, if a person cannot remember where he or she put something, cannot stay focused on a conversation or his or her behavior changes noticeably, with fits of irritability or aggression.

Supplements

There are many supplements that aim to improve concentration and memory, however most of them reach their full potential when working together with other ingredients, which is why it is important to choose wisely and go for the brands that offer balanced ingredients of their supplements.

DMAE (Dimethyl Amino Ethanol Bitartrate) can be very useful for improving concentration, as it minimizes the levels of age-induced damage to the brain and increases acetylcholine levels in the brain.

Periwinkle contains a natural ingredient called vinpocetine, which is an antioxidant that protects neurons as well. It increases the flow and usage of oxygen in the brain and improves blood circulation to the brain. Circulation is important because it transports all the important nutrients necessary for proper functioning of the brain.

Seniors can greatly benefit from Acetyl L-Carnitine, which removes and prevents the build-up of amyloid plaque, considered to be the culprit of Alzheimer’s disease.

Young people, especially students, can take Phosphatidyl Serine supplements, which increase concentration, verbal fluency, attention span and improve learning.

Essential fatty acids, found especially in cold water fish like salmon and herring, are important for many body functions and they are known to improve cognitive processes like memory and concentration as well.

Vitamin B3 promotes secretion of growth hormones and improves nerve health, while B6 participates in production of enzymes which are important for proper functioning of neurotransmitters. Several studies have shown that regular intake of B complex vitamins has positive effect on concentration.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant which prevents damage to the brain cells caused by free radicals.

Ginkgo Biloba is the name commonly associated with improving memory and concentration. This herb increases oxygen flow to the brain and can be used as a form of prevention against dementia.

Siberian Ginseng is another herb that is believed to be very beneficial for people with memory and concentration problems. It is used in Alzheimer’s and ADHD patients to improve brain function.