Ancient Brain, Modern World: Unpacking the Mind-Body Connection
Over the past five years, I have seen more commercials for Prevagen than I can count. You know, it’s the pill that is touted as the “number one pharmacist recommended memory support”. The commercials are filled with “real customers” who have gotten “real results” and it all looks pretty convincing if one can ignore the disclaimer at the bottom of the screen.
Every time I see ads for Prevagen, I get mad. Not blisteringly angry, but really irritated.
As a specialist in dementia risk reduction, I know the science behind their claims is shoddy. A quick online search reveals years of complaints and lawsuits. Last month, in fact, the Food and Drug Administration forced Prevagen to agree to stop marketing the supplement with claims that it can improve memory. It has not been clinically proven to do anything.
And this is the crux of my deep dislike of Prevagen: it oversimplifies a complex, multi-factorial condition (dementia) and tells people that if they just take this pill, their memory will be better. That’s it. No nutrition. No exercise. No stress management. People can just keep living their lives exactly the way they are and just by taking this supplement derived from jellyfish, have a strong and sharp mind. It’s a total crock.
