An exploratory study published in Clinical Interventions in Aging (2013;8:557–563) evaluated the effects of phosphatidylserine (PS) on cognitive function in 30 adults aged 50 to 90 with memory complaints. Participants received 300 mg of phosphatidylserine daily for 12 weeks.
Supplementation was associated with significant improvements in memory recall, memory recognition, executive function, and mental flexibility. Measures of total learning and immediate recall also improved. Interestingly, participants experienced reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, suggesting possible vascular or autonomic benefits alongside cognitive effects.
The authors concluded that phosphatidylserine may have favorable effects on cognitive function in older adults with subjective memory concerns, while emphasizing that larger, controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Why this matters:
This study supports the idea that targeted membrane-support nutrients like phosphatidylserine may help support cognitive performance during aging—potentially through effects on neuronal signaling, stress hormones, and cerebral blood flow—without the risks associated with pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers.
