BRAIN BOOSTER SHOWS PROMISE

Interest in brain health has been on the rise in recent years as both the prevalence and awareness of neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease have increased. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 10 percent of Americans age 65 or older (5.6 million people) have Alzheimer’s Disease. Equally if not more alarming, that percentage increases significantly with age. It is estimated that nearly a third (32 percent) of individuals 85 or older is living with Alzheimer’s.

As such figures indicate, most of us are sadly familiar with neurocognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease. Chances are high that someone in your family is afflicted, or a close friend’s family. And like most health-oriented consumers, there’s a good chance that you’re interested in improving brain health.

For the average adult, brain development peaks at age 25, and after age 40 brain volume begins to decrease at a rate of five percent per decade. Neurons and their connecting pathways start shrinking, and after age 70 the rate of decline increases even further. It’s no wonder that older consumers are interested in maintaining brain health to stave off declining cognitive function. Last year AARP conducted an on-line survey of nearly 2,300 participants and found that more than one-third of adults age 74 or older was taking a supplement for brain health. But it is not just older consumers who are concerned about brain health. Millennials, too, are gravitating to products that help promote greater mental focus and acuity and reverse the effects of aging.

Nutritional supplement sales reflect a growing appetite for products aimed at improving cognitive function. It’s estimated that the global brain health supplements market will reach $11.6 billion by 2024, a nearly five-fold increase compared to the $2.3 billion in sales from 2015. Consumers face an array of supplements that promote brain health, but it’s important to consider efficacy and safety, as demonstrated by research and clinical studies.