What Are the Dangers of Taking Prevagen?

There are plenty of supplements claiming to help brain health, reduce memory loss and mitigate cognitive decline. The effectiveness of these supplements remains up for debate, however, as does the safety. Prevagen is one of the biggest selling memory supplements on the market, but it’s been hit with its fair share of controversy. Below, we detail more about the side effects of Prevagen and the potential risks of the supplement. 

Prevagen for Memory Loss

Prevagen is a heavily advertised supplement. The manufacturers have an extensive marketing campaign and promise their product will improve memory. The makers of Prevagen also say the supplement supports clear thinking, a sharper mind, and healthy brain function. 

The primary ingredient in Prevagen is something called apoaequorin. It’s a synthetic version of a protein that comes from a glowing jellyfish. Apoaequorin can, in theory, bind to calcium. 

When people age, the calcium levels in their brains can rise, which is thought to be one of the reasons why we experience declines in memory and cognition as we get older. Since apoaequorin might be able to bind to calcium, the supplement is supposed to bring down brain calcium levels. 

How much that holds true is debatable

The primary study cited by the company that manufactures Prevagen is one they carried out. They looked at a group of people for 90 days and assessed memory after using the supplement. 

The manufacturer’s takeaway from the study was that the supplement improved recall tasks in subjects but didn’t explain what this meant. 

The actual published version of the study showed very little improvement, to the point that it’s hard to say Prevagen is proven to be effective in any way. 

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission charged the maker of Prevagen with false advertising in 2012. The company was accused of selectively reporting its data and misleading the public with its claims that Prevagen is clinically proven to boost cognitive function. 

Are There Side Effects?

Whether or not Prevagen is effective for improving memory is debatable, and the safety can be as well. 

It’s important for anyone taking a supplement to realize the FDA doesn’t approve or regulate any of them, and Prevagen is no exception. 

There are some restrictions, though. For example, supplement makers can’t say their product will treat or prevent any disease. The makers of Prevagen have received warnings about deceptive claims because their commercials suggest their supplement can reverse or slow memory issues. 

Regarding side effects, apoaequorin, the primary ingredient in Prevagen, is considered mostly safe, but there’s not a lot of research to confirm that. Potential mild side effects of taking Prevagen include headache, nausea, dizziness, and constipation. 

There are also some anecdotal reports of fairly serious side effects. For example, some people report experiencing edema which is swelling because of fluid buildup in the tissues, and high blood pressure. 

In a study from the company that makes Prevagen, doctors concluded all serious adverse side effects were associated with other health conditions or weren’t related to the use of the supplement. 

There are two word-of-mouth reports from people with multiple sclerosis. They took apoaequorin supplements and said they experienced low blood pressure, depression, and suicidal thoughts. We don’t know if those were the effects of the supplement or not. 

Generally, based on what we know now, although research is limited, apoaequorin supplements are thought to be well-tolerated by most people without underlying health conditions, taking a low dose for 90 days. 

The Reality of Memory Supplements

You’ll find a lot of experts who advise against taking so-called memory supplements. There aren’t any current supplements with enough evidence to support the claim that they can help memory. 

Most doctors believe a healthy diet rich in fats like omega-3 fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy whole grains is better for your memory and brain health than anything else you might do. 

If you want to take a supplement like Prevagen or anything to help your memory, you should talk to your doctor or possibly a pharmacist first. 

While Prevagen might not be particularly dangerous on its own, if you have underlying health conditions or take certain medications or supplements, it can increase your risks. 

There’s also no research on the safety of Prevagen going beyond 90 days, which adds another risk element to taking it.