Can brain pills really
make you smarter?

Do they work?

I couldn't find a single personal review or testimonial about any of them. There was one very good non-personal review on Neuro-Clear, which went through many of the ingredients and analyzed their possible benefits for brain function. But my impression of the page was that it was meant to drive the reader to another pill, Serenity, a mood-enhancing pill, as there were several ads for Serenity all around the review.

All of these brain pills contain a wide range of herbal supplements -- some, according to sales information, with thousands of years of use in China or India.

I found it ironic that I had just read an article in Time magazine by Dr. Sanjay Gupta that said most herbal supplements bought off the shelf of your local drug store or ordered off the Web have little or no effect on the condition consumers are looking to treat. Considering the herbal supplement industry is a multibillion-dollar one, that's a little shocking. But not too surprising, I guess.

 Gupta noted, for example, that Gingko Biloba, which has been touted for years by the herbal supplement industry to increase brain function, has shown no clinical evidence of it.

One of the best pieces of advice I read on the subject of brain pills was on the WebMD website. It was suggested there that the best advice for having a sharp-focused mind was to take a multivitamin, especially one containing antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, because they "protect cells from damage by disarming free radicals. Brain cells are especially vulnerable to these troublemakers because the brain generates more free radicals per gram of tissue than any other organ. Antioxidants also protect neurons by keeping blood vessels supple and open, ensuring the flow of nutrients to the brain." 

Where have I heard this before?

Also suggested, for overall good health, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and get plenty of exercise. Hmmmm, where have I heard that before? When you take care of your body, you are also taking care of your brain.

It also wouldn't hurt, if you want to be temporarily more alert, to drink some coffee or other caffeine, as long as you don't overdo it. In fact, I heard Dr. Mehmet Oz mention that green tea is a much better source of caffeine than, say, coffee because it doesn't contain the acid that coffee does.

I also remember reading recently, although I can't cite the source right now, that seniors who regularly drink coffee have better brain function overall. Coffee seems to move from the "bad list" to the "good list" every once in awhile, just like eggs.

Bottom line, without actual consumer reviews, I'd hesitate to spend my money on brain pills. But if you have a good deal of disposable income and you're already eating well and exercising, I doubt these supplements could hurt you. But that's purely a non-medical opinion.