Mental Fatigue: The Top 10 Best Supplements

Wondering how to improve focus? If you struggle with mental fatigue, you know the frustration in trying to perform while mentally exhausted. Mental fatigue supplements supply crucial nutrition that boosts brain performance.

Here is a master list of natural substances, including herbs and compounds found in the body, that we know treat mental fatigue and boost brain performance.

Table of Contents

Alpha GPC

The compound Alpha-GPC improves symptoms of dementia (R) and Alzheimer’s. (R)

Alpha-GPC improves cognitive performance in Alzheimer’s (R) and stroke. (R)

It also boosted learning and memory in animals, (R) and improves levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, (R1, R2) which is key in learning and memory.

Alpha-GPC increases the availability of choline to bolster acetylcholine production. (R)

Recommended source: NOW Alpha GPC (Amazon)

Astragalus

The herb astragalus reverses learning and memory problems stemming from many different causes, including diabetes, (R) injury, poor blood flow to the brain, and amyloid proteins, (R1, R2, R3, R4) which are behind diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. (R)

Recommended source: NOW Supplements Astragalus (Amazon)

Eleuthero

The herb Eleuthero, AKA Siberian Ginseng, has a bevy of benefits for the mentally tired.

Eleuthero reduces mental fatigue (R) and general fatigue (R), binds to steroid receptors for a steroid-like effect (R), and increases levels of key neurotransmitters in mood and mental function.

These neurotransmitters include the feel-good serotonin and dopamine (R) and acetylcholine, which improves learning and memory. (R)

Recommended source: NOW Eleuthero (Amazon)

Glycine

The amino acid glycine is key in transmission between neurons in parts of the brain (R) and is important for general brain function. (R)

Glycine improved mental performance in people who had their sleep period restricted. (R)

Glycine improved memory and performance on a task that required sustained attention. (R)

Recommended source: BulkSupplements Pure Glycine Powder (Amazon)

Lecithin

Lecithin, a fatty substance sourced from plant and animal tissues, improves memory (R) and has prominent cheerleaders in the medical world for general brain health (R) and attention and academic performance. (R)

Recommended source: NOW Sunflower Lecithin (Amazon)

Phosphatidylserine (PS)

Phosphatidylserine, a substance that’s part of membranes in the body, improves memory (R1, R2); reasoning, learning and communication (R); cognition (R); and concentration and word recall. (R)

A study of PS in children with ADHD found that it improved symptoms (R).

PS also increases acetylcholine, (R) a key neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory.

Rhodiola

The herb Rhodiola decreases mental fatigue and improves the ability to perform mental work while fatigued. (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5)

Rhodiola boosted mental and physical performance in people with difficulties with both. (R)

Rhodiola improves short-term memory, especially when combined with gingko biloba. (R)

It also boosted learning and memory in animals, in part by improving levels of the key neurotransmitter acetylcholine. (R)

Recommended source: Now Rhodiola (Amazon)

Schisandra

The herb schisandra enhances cognition in neurodegenerative disease. (R)

Studies and reviews of studies on schisandra conclude that it improves both mental and physical performance in the face of many stressors. (R1, R2, R3)

Suma

A harder-to-come-by variety of the herb Suma called pfaffia glomerata improved learning and reversed memory loss in aging animals. (R)

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a substance that powerfully boosts blood flow to the brain and spinal cord. (R1, R2, R3, R4)

Vinpocetine is effective in improving cognitive function in infarction (in which the brain suffers restricted blood flow) (R1, R2), stroke (R), poor brain blood flow from high blood pressure (R), aging-induced cognitive decline (R), and Alzheimer’s and dementia. (R)

Recommended source: We Like Vitamins Vinpocetine 30mg (Amazon)