AlphaBrain Review
Does Alpha Brain Work?
AlphaBrain is the flagship product from Onnit Labs, a performance enhancement company formed by Aubrey Marcus. Because Onnit Labs has essentially opened the public up to the existence of nootropic supplements and is selling a ton of product, Onnit reviews are common on the interwebs. I have to throw my 2 cents in.
Much of the popularity of AlphaBrain (and other Onnit products) is the result of Joe Rogan regularly advertising the company on his podcast - The Joe Rogan Experience. Rogan is a stand-up comic, TV personality (host of Fear Factor, Joe Rogan Questions Everything, NewsRadio), and color commentator for the UFC. The Onnit-Rogan connection has been powerful, coupled with a relentless Google Ads campaign. The question probably comes up in his listeners' minds: "Is the Joe Rogan brain boosted by AlphaBrain, or is AlphaBrain a cleverly market product?" Probably a bit of both. Let me rewind time for a minute and explain the origin of my interest in nootropic supplements. When I was 16 I had my first psilocybin mushroom experience. Up until then I had no appreciation for how drastically altered our thoughts and perceptions could be. It was like I was seeing everything for the first time. Amplification of colors, sounds becoming visible, pixalation of reality, moments of unparalleled clarity. Undulation of the space-fabric covering the material manifestation in the mind's eye. Fractals. Time rolling to and fro as waves. To the uninitiated this sounds like the ravings of madness. Maybe it's close. Maybe experiences like this are also the origin point of all true religious experience. Whatever your opinion, the epiphany for me was that small amount of a chemical can make a big difference on one's noggin. I wasn't especially ADHD as a child. I wasn't around adults suffering from mental illness. My interest in human psychology, from the beginning, wasn't so much about "fixing" or "treating" disease as it was about peak performance and unleashing potential. I was interested in the state called "flow,' as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. I was intrigued by savants and wondered if "normal" people could tap into their super-human powers without sacrificing things like the ability to navigate social situations. Prodigies. Geniuses. In a field primarily populated by therapists and counselors, I wanted to learn about the rogue cognitive explorers working on methods to raise us to higher levels of thought and behavior. I read about the idea of nootropics. Back then, Piracetam was one of the few things I could find out about. The internet was young. And slow. And waiting to be filled up with useful information. In my first semester of college I asked my psychology Professor to tell us about nootropics. She had never heard of the term. It's a few moons later, and I am thankful to Onnit Labs for bringing nootropics to people's imaginations. With movies like Limitless teasing us with magical clear brain pills, and a world accelerating at a pace nobody can really comprehend, an edge, some easy to swallow substance making us more intelligent sounds just about right. So, does Alpha Brain work? AlphaBrain works. A little bit. Probably not like you are hoping. Actually, nothing can deliver immediate and profound amplification of your cognition and memory. Not without serious undesirable consequences. Well, almost nothing. Adderall packs a wallop, but it is prescription, and it doesn't guarantee that you will stay on task. You may just end up cleaning a corner of your bathroom for 12 hours. On one of my few experiences with Adderall, I ran a marathon distance, but my body wasn't prepared for the wear and tear. More than a little sore the next few days. Another time on Adderrall my brain was racing so fast and thinking so far ahead that I went to the gas station to fill-up, went into the office to pay, and then got back into my car and continued onto my next destination. I was down the street before I realized I never pumped any gas (I'm no Einstein, but I would normally never make a mistake like that). Then there's the new great hope - Modafinil (and Armodafinil). These are great for mental energy and motivation, and Modafinil is maybe unmatched in its ability to help you stay-on-task. All day. With few side-effects. But Modafinil doesn't make you much "smarter." Actually, the ingredients in AlphaBrain could, in theory, enhance learning, recall, and problem solving. |
What is AlphaBrain? Let's break down the ingredients in AlphaBrain and do some critiquing (although a "dose" is two capsules, for comparison sake we will examine what - and how much - is in one capsule):
Vitamin B6. This vitamin is involved in the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter several of the other ingredients in this supplement formula are intended to support. At 5mg, this is a generous supply of Pyridoxine (B6).
Alpha GPC. Putting the "Alpha" in AlphaBrain, this is a favorite source of choline by today's nootropic community. Fat soluble and easily passes across the bloodbrain barrier. Expensive. At 50mg, this is a moderate quantity, but taking several capsules at once ups the intake of this sought after supplement. Without any other choline source in AlphaBrain, replenishing acetylcholine as fast as the other ingredients are using it up may be an issue.
Huperzine A. This is an acetylcholinesterase-inhibitor - it slows down the enzymes which break down your acetylcholine; acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter important for cognition (keeping it general here); more acetylcholine may lead to a heightened ability to perform mental tasks. A calculation needs to be performed to determine how much of this Huperzia serrata extract is actually in the formula. Because pure Huperzine A is so potent, it is usually incorporated into stack-formulas as a 1%, or in this case .5% dilution. AlphaBrain contains the equivalent of about 10mg (@1%) of Huperzine A. Likely being the most effective, or noticeable ingredient in AlphaBrain, this is a decent quantity of Huperzine A. Not great. Not too bad. But this is what happens when too many ingredients are mashed together. Do we get synergy, or are we left with a compromise?
Vinpocetine. AlphaBrain has 2.5mg of Vinpocetine per capsule, a supplement derived from the periwinkle plant that is used to improve blood flow to the brain. Again, there is a reason why two capsules are considered a dose, and not one.
AC-11. This is taken from a plant called Cat's Claw, and this version of the extract is patented by Optigenex and I believe that only AlphaBrain is licensed to use it. Supposedly this stuff repairs DNA. The 175mg per capsule of AC-ll is hard to critique because not much is known about it. I like the idea, and there have been some studies supporting the efficacy of AC-11, but I don't know if this is a "therapeutic dose."
Phosphatidylserine. This is a component of cell membranes and supports performance when faced with stress. The 25mg per capsule is a relatively small dose, but mostly good reports exist from users of this cortisol-fighting phospholipid.
Bacopa. AlphaBrain incorporates an extract of the Ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri standardized to contain 50% bacosides - antioxidants shown in clinical studies to protect nerves. This is a solid ingredient and although there is a wide range for how much Bacopa (and bacosides) various companies put in their capsules, AlphaBrain seems to have picked a good mid-range quantity.
Pterostilbene. This is the newer and better resveratrol-like antioxidant. Shows good promise for cleaning up free radicals and reducing mental fog. Other companies that sell Pterostilbene as a stand-alone ingredient typically pack 50mg of this ingredient into a capsule. At 375mcg (that's .375mg), I doubt this has much of a protective or nootropic action.
L-Tyrosine. Tyrosine is an amino-acid which the body turns into L-dopa, or dopamine, a feel-good chemical in the brain. Another solid ingredient with a good safety profile. Also smart for AlphaBrain to pair its 150mg of Tyrosine per capsule with vitamin B6 for absorption. Some nootropic enthusiasts prefer the fat soluble version - NALT - but nothing wrong with the original Tyrosine.
L-Theanine. Theanine is the amino acid found in tea leaves which makes the caffeine in tea less jitter-producing than in coffee. It has a calming effect and this can be attested to by how Theanine increases Alpha-Waves after ingestion (Alpha Waves are the predominant brain activity as measured by EEG over certain brain regions when a person is awake and calm, usually with eyes closed). An inclusion of 100mg per capsule in AlphaBrain probably does help mitigate against any excessive stimulation that the other ingredients could potentially cause (especially when taking several capsules at once).
Oat Straw. Avena sativa, or OatStraw, is a favorably viewed "nerve tonic" used as a male sexual energy enhancer, as a means to reduce neurological pain, and for clear thought. AlphaBrain uses a particularly potent extract of Oat Straw but even at a 20:1 concentration includes a small amount of this ingredient (50mg per capsule).
Vitamin B6. This vitamin is involved in the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter several of the other ingredients in this supplement formula are intended to support. At 5mg, this is a generous supply of Pyridoxine (B6).
Alpha GPC. Putting the "Alpha" in AlphaBrain, this is a favorite source of choline by today's nootropic community. Fat soluble and easily passes across the bloodbrain barrier. Expensive. At 50mg, this is a moderate quantity, but taking several capsules at once ups the intake of this sought after supplement. Without any other choline source in AlphaBrain, replenishing acetylcholine as fast as the other ingredients are using it up may be an issue.
Huperzine A. This is an acetylcholinesterase-inhibitor - it slows down the enzymes which break down your acetylcholine; acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter important for cognition (keeping it general here); more acetylcholine may lead to a heightened ability to perform mental tasks. A calculation needs to be performed to determine how much of this Huperzia serrata extract is actually in the formula. Because pure Huperzine A is so potent, it is usually incorporated into stack-formulas as a 1%, or in this case .5% dilution. AlphaBrain contains the equivalent of about 10mg (@1%) of Huperzine A. Likely being the most effective, or noticeable ingredient in AlphaBrain, this is a decent quantity of Huperzine A. Not great. Not too bad. But this is what happens when too many ingredients are mashed together. Do we get synergy, or are we left with a compromise?
Vinpocetine. AlphaBrain has 2.5mg of Vinpocetine per capsule, a supplement derived from the periwinkle plant that is used to improve blood flow to the brain. Again, there is a reason why two capsules are considered a dose, and not one.
AC-11. This is taken from a plant called Cat's Claw, and this version of the extract is patented by Optigenex and I believe that only AlphaBrain is licensed to use it. Supposedly this stuff repairs DNA. The 175mg per capsule of AC-ll is hard to critique because not much is known about it. I like the idea, and there have been some studies supporting the efficacy of AC-11, but I don't know if this is a "therapeutic dose."
Phosphatidylserine. This is a component of cell membranes and supports performance when faced with stress. The 25mg per capsule is a relatively small dose, but mostly good reports exist from users of this cortisol-fighting phospholipid.
Bacopa. AlphaBrain incorporates an extract of the Ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri standardized to contain 50% bacosides - antioxidants shown in clinical studies to protect nerves. This is a solid ingredient and although there is a wide range for how much Bacopa (and bacosides) various companies put in their capsules, AlphaBrain seems to have picked a good mid-range quantity.
Pterostilbene. This is the newer and better resveratrol-like antioxidant. Shows good promise for cleaning up free radicals and reducing mental fog. Other companies that sell Pterostilbene as a stand-alone ingredient typically pack 50mg of this ingredient into a capsule. At 375mcg (that's .375mg), I doubt this has much of a protective or nootropic action.
L-Tyrosine. Tyrosine is an amino-acid which the body turns into L-dopa, or dopamine, a feel-good chemical in the brain. Another solid ingredient with a good safety profile. Also smart for AlphaBrain to pair its 150mg of Tyrosine per capsule with vitamin B6 for absorption. Some nootropic enthusiasts prefer the fat soluble version - NALT - but nothing wrong with the original Tyrosine.
L-Theanine. Theanine is the amino acid found in tea leaves which makes the caffeine in tea less jitter-producing than in coffee. It has a calming effect and this can be attested to by how Theanine increases Alpha-Waves after ingestion (Alpha Waves are the predominant brain activity as measured by EEG over certain brain regions when a person is awake and calm, usually with eyes closed). An inclusion of 100mg per capsule in AlphaBrain probably does help mitigate against any excessive stimulation that the other ingredients could potentially cause (especially when taking several capsules at once).
Oat Straw. Avena sativa, or OatStraw, is a favorably viewed "nerve tonic" used as a male sexual energy enhancer, as a means to reduce neurological pain, and for clear thought. AlphaBrain uses a particularly potent extract of Oat Straw but even at a 20:1 concentration includes a small amount of this ingredient (50mg per capsule).
My Experience with AlphaBrain
I bought a bottle and went through it pretty quick. To be honest, I didn't get much benefit. The ingredients in Alpha Brain, based on my "academic" knowledge of them as well as experimentation, should have immediate and noticeable affect on the mind. I tried taking several capsules at once a few times. Still, not much. I'd like to think that I am in-tune with assessing my own functioning. I know when I feel a legitimate effect from nutritional supplements (or prescription "drugs"). The good news - I didn't get any adverse reactions. I'm not knocking AlphaBrain. Much respect to them for getting this nootropic movement rolling. And maybe I just needed to take five capsules, like Rogan regularly does on his podcast. But I don't know, maybe the ingredients cancel each other out. The intent is synergy - for the ingredients to work together - and this is a good approach; and yet, through my own experimentation I've seen how blending certain substances together can result in unexpected and sometimes disappointing outcomes. If you want to give AlphaBrain a try, by all means do. Many people have had similar results as I had, but there are also many positive feedbacks that Alpha Brain receives.
I think that Onnit Labs tried to pack too many ingredients into their star supplement. We don't need, nor should we expect, every nootropic to be mixed together into one end-all, be-all magic pill. That's my Onnit Alpha Brain review. So, what did I do about my un-gratified experience with AlphaBrain? I continued to experiment, learn from others' experiences, and ended up with my own formulas. I put together my favorite ingredients in what I think are the best ratios. I didn't add any fillers. I didn't add any ingredients that were "popular" but lacked sufficient evidence (be it in the form of clinical trials or crowd-testing and review). I created a line of superior nootropics and I named the company LUCIMINAL. |