Researchers gave 54 healthy people aged 65 and over either 300 mg of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract or a placebo every day for 12 weeks. Memory for a word list recalled after a delay improved in the Bacopa group and stayed flat in the placebo group. Reaction time on an attention test, depression and anxiety scores, and heart rate also moved in a better direction with Bacopa, and side effects were few and mostly stomach upset.
Memory and thinking speed often decline with age. Bacopa monnieri is a plant long used in Ayurvedic medicine as a memory aid, and earlier placebo-controlled trials had suggested a benefit, mostly in younger and middle-aged adults. The researchers asked whether a standardized Bacopa extract changed cognition, anxiety and depression in older adults.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Portland, Oregon. Double-blind means neither participants nor study staff knew who received the extract. A 6 week placebo run-in, where everyone took a dummy tablet, came before 12 weeks of treatment.
The main outcome was delayed word recall on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Other measures were the Stroop task, which tests the ability to ignore distracting information, a divided attention task, a working memory digit task, questionnaires for depression, anxiety and mood, and vital signs.
On delayed word recall, the Bacopa group went from 6.4 words at baseline to 7.6 at 12 weeks, while placebo went from 6.8 to 6.9. The trend was statistically significant in the Bacopa group only (F 5.4, df 1,21, p 0.03, effect size 0.20). Stroop reaction time fell from 60.1 to 57.2 seconds on Bacopa and stayed near 60 seconds on placebo (linear F 9.4, p 0.003, effect size 0.29; quadratic F 10.6, p 0.006, effect size 0.32).
Depression scores rose on placebo and fell slightly on Bacopa (F 4.0, df 1,43, p 0.05, effect size 0.08). Combined state plus trait anxiety split the same way (one-tailed p 0.04 and 0.05). Heart rate rose on placebo from 67.2 to 72.3 beats per minute and was flat on Bacopa (F 7.3, df 1,44, p 0.01, effect size 0.09). Nothing changed on immediate recall, divided attention, the digit task, mood, blood pressure or temperature. There were 41 adverse events, 23 on placebo and 18 on Bacopa.
The sample was small: 48 finishers in two groups of 24. Two anxiety p values were one-tailed, a less conservative test. Blinding was imperfect: 32 of 48 participants believed they were on the active tablet, more than chance would predict, though evenly split across groups. Participants were mostly white and college educated. MediHerb supplied the tablets free of charge, and co-author Kerry Bone is Chairman of the Board and Director of Research and Development at MediHerb. The paper states he took no part in the study's conduct or interpretation. Other funding came from the National Institutes of Health and the Northwest Health Foundation. The authors note the placebo group's rising depression scores and heart rate may reflect frustration with repeated test visits rather than real decline.
This is one small trial in adults aged 65 and over, living independently and free of dementia. It does not automatically extend to healthy or younger people, and says nothing about diagnosed memory disorders. The changes were modest: about one extra word recalled and roughly three seconds off a reaction time task. Most measures showed no change. It adds to earlier trials rather than settling the question, and the industry link in the author list is a reason to read it carefully.
That depends on the specific medication and formula. A few, like blood thinners with CurQLife or blood pressure medication with MaxiNOs, are worth a direct conversation with your doctor first. Check each formula's own FAQ section for specifics, or ask your health coach.
No, and we'd rather be upfront about it. Bacopa, the plant in BacoZest, has published human studies, though they used other bacopa extracts. OptiNOs and MaxiNOs each have human studies sponsored by their maker, Laila Nutraceuticals, which haven't been published in a journal. CurQLife's research is still early, from lab and animal studies, and we label it that way.
It depends on what you're building your routine around. BacoZest is built around bacopa, which is studied for memory.* OptiNOs supports strength and muscular endurance alongside resistance training.* MaxiNOs was studied for healthy blood vessel function.* CurQLife's research is still at the lab stage. Your health coach can help you pick a starting point.
All four are built around plant extracts. OptiNOs was reported as well tolerated in its human study, and published bacopa studies reported no serious side effects. CurQLife's safety data so far comes from lab and animal testing. Check with your doctor first if you're pregnant, nursing, on medication, or managing a health condition.
Because the patented ingredients behind our four formulas went through dedicated research, and research costs real money. A generic curcumin or bacopa supplement hasn't been tested in the form you get from us. You're paying for an ingredient with research behind it, not just a label.
Generic ingredients often haven't been studied in the specific form you're buying. Our four core formulas use patented ingredients, and we show you the research behind each one, including where it's still early.
It depends on the formula. In its study, MaxiNOs blood vessel response was higher than placebo 2 to 3 hours after the first dose.* OptiNOs and bacopa were studied over 6 and 12 weeks of daily use, so give them time. CurQLife is meant to be taken daily.
Yes. BacoZest, OptiNOs, MaxiNOs, and CurQLife are built for different goals, and none of them contain stimulants. They haven't been studied together, so ask your health coach how to fit them into your routine.
