Goal
Cognition
Focus, working memory, and long-term neuroprotection. Not all nootropics are equal; evidence tiers vary widely.
Compounds
All compounds →Alpha-GPC
aka L-Alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine / choline alfoscerate / GPC / alpha-glyceryl phosphorylcholine
Alpha GPC supplement profile: 300 to 600 mg dosage, acetylcholine synthesis, attention and reaction-time evidence, side effects, and choline donor comparisons.
- Half-life
- 4hr
- Typical dose
- 600mg
Armodafinil
aka Nuvigil / R-modafinil / (R)-(-)-modafinil
Armodafinil is the R-enantiomer sold as Nuvigil. Half-life 10-15 h, 150 mg standard dose, narcolepsy and shift-work approvals, Schedule IV.
- Half-life
- 15hr
- Typical dose
- 150mg
Ashwagandha
aka Withania somnifera / KSM-66 / Sensoril
Ashwagandha supplement guide: KSM-66 and Sensoril extracts at 300-600 mg/day cut morning cortisol and stress in RCTs. Dose, side effects, testosterone data.
- Half-life
- 10hr
- Typical dose
- 600mg
Bromantane
aka Ladasten / ADK-709 / N-(4-bromophenyl)adamantan-2-amine
Bromantane, the Russian nootropic sold as Ladasten (ADK-709), acts on dopamine to cut fatigue and anxiety without classical stimulant rebound.
- Half-life
- 11hr
- Typical dose
- 75mg
Citicoline
aka CDP-choline / cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine / Cognizin
Citicoline supplement profile: CDP-choline as a phosphatidylcholine precursor, Cognizin dosing 250-2000 mg, cognition trials, stroke recovery evidence.
- Half-life
- 56hr
- Typical dose
- 500mg
Creatine Monohydrate
aka creatine
Creatine monohydrate supplement guide: 3-5 g/day raises phosphocreatine stores, lifts anaerobic output 5-15%, supports lean mass and cognition under sleep loss.
- Half-life
- 3hr
- Typical dose
- 5000mg
Fisetin
aka 3,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone
Fisetin is a flavonoid found in strawberries with senolytic activity in mouse models. Hickson 2019 confirmed senescent-cell clearance in human adipose tissue.
- Half-life
- 2hr
- Typical dose
- 500mg
L-Theanine
aka theanine / gamma-glutamylethylamide
L-theanine is a non-protein amino acid found in tea leaves. The most-replicated nootropic; pairs with caffeine at 1:1 (100-200 mg each) for acute focus.
- Half-life
- 1.5hr
- Typical dose
- 200mg
Lion's Mane
aka Hericium erinaceus / Yamabushitake / Bearded Tooth / Hou Tou Gu
Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) supplement profile: hericenones and erinacines stimulate NGF in vitro. Human cognition trials are small.
- Half-life
- 6hr
- Typical dose
- 1000mg
Magnesium L-Threonate
aka Mg-T / MgT / Magtein / magnesium threonate
Magnesium l-threonate (Magtein) crosses the blood-brain barrier. Typical dose 1,500-2,000 mg. Sleep and cognitive trial data, side effects.
- Half-life
- 4hr
- Typical dose
- 2000mg
Methylene Blue
aka Methylthioninium chloride / Provayblue / tetramethylthionine chloride
Methylene blue as a nootropic: low-dose cognitive enhancement, mitochondrial electron cycling, brain oxygen uptake, SSRI interaction risk, typical 0.5 to 4 mg.
- Half-life
- 5.5hr
- Typical dose
- 70mg
Modafinil
aka Provigil / Modalert / Modvigil / diphenylmethylsulfinyl-acetamide
Modafinil cognitive enhancement profile: wakefulness-promoting agent, 100-200 mg dosing, 12-15 hour half-life, off-label nootropic use, Schedule IV status.
- Half-life
- 13hr
- Typical dose
- 200mg
Noopept
aka GVS-111 / N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester / Omberacetam
Noopept cognitive enhancer profile: 10 to 30 mg dosage, dipeptide nootropic mechanism, memory effects, and how it compares to piracetam.
- Half-life
- 0.7hr
- Typical dose
- 20mg
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
aka fish oil / EPA / DHA / marine omega-3
Omega 3 fish oil profile: EPA/DHA marine fatty acids, 2-4 g/day cuts triglycerides 20-30%, REDUCE-IT showed 25% cardiovascular risk reduction on icosapent eth.
- Half-life
- 48hr
- Typical dose
- 2000mg
Selank
aka TP-7 / Tuftsin analog
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
- Half-life
- 0.5hr
- Typical dose
- 0.4mg
Semax
aka Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro / ACTH(4-10) Pro-Gly-Pro analog
Semax peptide benefits: nootropic ACTH(4-10) analog without corticotropic activity. Cognitive enhancement, neuroprotection, intranasal dosing, Russian stroke.
- Half-life
- 0.5hr
- Typical dose
- 0.6mg
Spermidine
aka spermidine trihydrochloride / wheat-germ-extract spermidine
Spermidine supplement benefits cover autophagy induction, longevity signals, and cognition. Wheat germ extract data, doses, and human trials reviewed.
- Half-life
- 6hr
- Typical dose
- 1.2mg
Articles
All articles →
Alpha-GPC Dosage: 300, 600, or 1,200 mg? Evidence Map
Alpha-GPC dosage by goal: 300-600 mg/day for cognitive enhancement, 600 mg pre-training for power output, 1,200 mg/day for vascular cognitive impairment.
Ashwagandha and L-Theanine: Stack for Stress + Focus
Ashwagandha + L-theanine stack: ashwagandha 300-600 mg/day for chronic stress, L-theanine 100-200 mg as needed for acute focus.
Creatine for Cognitive Function: 12-Week Self-Experiment Protocol
A 12-week n=1 creatine for cognitive function protocol: 5 g/day, anchored to Rae 2003, McMorris 2006 sleep deprivation, Avgerinos 2018 meta.
Caffeine L-Theanine Stack: Ratio, Dosage, and Focus Effects
Caffeine L-theanine stack at 1:1, 100-200 mg each, is the best-evidenced acute focus pairing. Ratio, dosage, and when to skip it.
Best Nootropic Stacks: Honest Guide for Daily Focus
Best nootropic stacks ranked honestly: caffeine plus L-theanine, racetams, and what to skip. How to stack nootropics for daily focus without the hype.