Brain fog. Mental fatigue. Forgetting why you walked into the room. We’ve all been there—and the market for “brain boosters” is booming because of it.

But do nootropics actually work?

Some ingredients have real promise. Lion’s mane mushroom has been linked to nerve growth factor stimulation. Bacopa monnieri shows benefits for memory recall in clinical studies. And citicoline and L-tyrosine may help with focus and mental energy.

✅ Look for: Bacopa (standardized to 20% bacosides), Citicoline, Lion’s Mane extract (minimum 500mg), and L-theanine.
❌ Skip: Vague proprietary blends with flashy names but no transparent dosages.
❌ Avoid caffeine-heavy “brain pills” that mask fatigue without offering long-term support.

Cognitive supplements can work—if they use the right ingredients in proven doses. At IsItApproved.com, we review what’s backed by science and what’s just clever branding.