Sharpening the clarity and efficiency of our thinking can lead to positive results in many areas of life. Performance in work, school, creative projects, and interpersonal relationships will tend to be enhanced if we can improve our cognitive function.
There are many ways to do this. Lifestyle choices such as sleeping well, eating a healthy diet, exercising, reading, writing, and getting into nature tend to improve our ability to think clearly. A generally healthy life will improve our chances of having a clear, optimally functioning brain.
But apart from healthy lifestyle choices, there are also several peptides and supplements we can utilize that may help to optimize our cognitive functioning. An exciting body of research points to the effectiveness of several peptides and supplements in improving brain health and functionality, memory, and focus. Several peptides and supplements also appear to slow age-related decline in brain function.
Read on to discover more about various peptides and supplements that improve cognitive function.
What are peptides?
Peptides are substances that participate in the metabolic functions of living organisms. They are structurally the same as proteins – made of amino acid molecules – but peptides are smaller than proteins. Generally, peptides contain between two and 50 amino acids, while proteins contain 50 or more amino acids. Peptides are present in food and can also be created synthetically. Several types of peptides can have positive effects on various aspects of health when supplemented.
Peptides are contained in plant and animal foods such as:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Soybeans
- Wheat
- Corn
- Rice
- Meat
- Fish and shellfish
- Beans and lentils
- Oats
- Flaxseed
- Hemp seeds
Benefits of peptides
Research suggests that various bioactive peptides may have some of the following benefits:
- Improving immune function
- Slowing aging of the skin
- Reducing inflammation
- Preventing formation of blood clots
- Lowering high blood pressure
- Killing microbes
- Antioxidant properties
- Improving memory
- Increasing muscle mass
- Improving athletic performance
Are peptides good for memory?
Many studies are showing that peptides might be good for memory. Recent research has found that short amylin receptor antagonist peptides improve memory in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models.
What is a supplement?
A dietary supplement refers to any product that is designed to provide extra nutrients in addition to the diet. Supplements typically come in the form of pills, capsules, powders, or liquids. Some of the most widely used supplements are:
- Multivitamins
- Protein powders
- Vitamin B-12 tablets
- Vitamin D
What vitamins improve cognitive performance?
B vitamins such as B6, B12, and B9 (folic acid) play a role in brain health. Research suggests that vitamins E, A, and C may stave off cognitive decline as people age. Vitamin E has been shown to have beneficial effects in moderately severe Alzheimer disease.
Are there supplements to improve brain function?
Yes, there is quite a wide variety of supplements available that claim to improve brain function. Most supplements have multiple effects and improved brain function appears to be one effect of several options, including:
- Multivitamins
- B vitamin complex
- Vitamin E
- Fish oils
- Caffeine tablets
- Creatine
- Ginkgo biloba
- Bacopa monnieri
- Resveratrol
What peptides and supplements are good for the brain?
Here are eight top peptides and supplements that improve cognitive function.
1. AC253 peptide
Research has discovered that the AC253 peptide, in studies on mice, can lead to a significant improvement in Alzheimer’s symptoms. Daily injections of this peptide improved the mice’s memory, lowered brain inflammation, and resulted in less accumulation of beta-amyloid, the harmful protein that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Selank peptide
Research indicates that Selank, which is a synthetic nootropic peptide, can reduce anxiety, as well as improve learning, memory, and cognition, and reducing depression.
3. Delta Sleep Inducing peptide
Research suggests that Delta Sleep Inducing peptide can improve sleep quality by causing higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency. Sleep is very important for cognitive functioning, which suggests that Delta Sleep Inducing peptide may be beneficial for this purpose, especially in people who have problems getting enough sleep.
4. Fish oils
Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Both of these fatty acids are essential for brain health. DHA accounts for around 90% of the omega-3 fat found in brain cells, and EPA has anti-inflammatory effects that may protect the brain against damage. Research suggests supplementing with these fatty acids can improve brain health.
5. Ginkgo biloba
Dietary supplementation with ginkgo biloba appears to increase blood flow to the brain and to have the effect of improving memory and focus.
6. Creatine peptide
Research has indicated that creatine supplementation can improve memory and cognitive function in vegetarians.
7. Bacopa monnieri
Research suggests that supplementation with bacopa monnieri, which is typically used in traditional medicine practices such as Ayurveda, has the potential to improve cognition, particularly speed of attention.
8. Resveratrol
Research indicates that resveratrol improves learning, memory, and mood function in rats. This appears to occur through modulation of hippocampus plasticity and suppression of chronic low-level inflammation. Further research suggests resveratrol can improve memory performance in humans.
Other ways to improve cognitive function
As well as taking supplements, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to improve your cognitive function. These changes include:
- Eating a nutritious diet
- Intermittent fasting
- Regular aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, soccer
- Yoga
- Weight training
- Meditation
- Conversation with friends
- Reducing alcohol consumption
- Journaling
- Reading
- Getting into nature
- Sudoku
- Getting lots of good-quality sleep
