Nexira’s Cognivia may improve concentration and memory, reveal studies

17 Dec 2021 --- Nexira’s Cognivia, a plant-based nootropic, is now backed by two new clinical studies. The ingredient is marketed as the first to combine garden sage leaf extract and Spanish sage encapsulated essential oil for enhanced efficacy.

Sage has been known for its multiple health benefits and widely studied in the literature for cognitive performance benefits for centuries.

A boost for memory
This synergistic combination of Cognivia has been specifically developed for people wishing to improve their memory and concentration, such as e-gamers. 

Cheryl Myers, chief of scientific affairs and education at EuroPharma, says: “Cognivia had a good human study showing improvement in working memory, face recall and other parameters of memory.”

Sage has long been known for its multiple health benefits.Cognivia has already demonstrated an acute and chronic effect on working memory on active healthy volunteers in a first clinical study. 

During intense physical activity, a separate, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, crossover clinical study led by Inserm, the National Institute of Health and Medical Research, has also highlighted “impressive results.”

Enhancing cognitive performance 
The sage (Salvia) plant contains a host of terpenes and phenolics, which interact with mechanisms pertinent to brain function and improve aspects of cognitive performance. 

The first clinical study published by Nutrients investigated the impact of the combination of Salvia lavandulifolia (Spanish sage) and Salvia officinalis (garden sage) on cognitive functions in humans with acute and chronic outcomes.

This 28-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on Cognivia was conducted with Northumbria University on 94 healthy active volunteers. Results assessed by cognitive tests demonstrated:

• Overall benefit on working memory function for the three tasks. Working memory is the association of short-term memory, attention and data manipulation. 
• Increase of performance over time of consumption.
• Acute effect (single intake).
• Chronic effect (through 28 days consumption) on three tasks.

From five cognitive domains, which can be assessed through the Compass battery of tests used in the clinical study, a significant benefit of Cognivia was observed throughout working memory and accuracy task outcome measures.

Cognitive functions during physical activity
Sage supplementation has been shown to improve cognitive function in healthy individuals or patients. To date, no study has explored its relevance in the context of sporting performance. 

This clinical study aimed to explore the acute effects of Cognivia on cognitive function in athletes performing a fatiguing cycling task.

The placebo-controlled published by Frontiers, double-blind, randomized, crossover clinical study led by Inserm during intense physical activity has highlighted:

• Acute effect: Cognivia again proved efficient from a single intake.
• Working memory boost: A +9% increase in Numeric Working Memory during an exercise session.
• Reaction time improvement: Compared to placebo, Cognivia demonstrated a systematic and overall significant decrease in reaction time throughout all test points, which could lead to higher attention performance for e-gaming.
• Perceived exertion decrease: Cognitive tests were performed during intense physical activity. Workout has been felt as very intense and inducing fatigue. Cognivia demonstrated a significant overall decrease in the “rate of perceived exertion” compared to placebo.

Researchers concluded that the combination of Salvia varieties improved cognitive functions. The positive effects were obtained in fresh conditions and were maintained with fatigue.

New horizons for nootropics?Cognivia has already demonstrated an acute and chronic effect on working memory.
The cognitive health market and consumers’ perspective regarding the importance of mental health have both grown significantly over the past couple of years. 

According to data from Innova Market Insights, nutritional cognition boosters are on the rise, as specific “nootropic” claims witnessed an average annual growth of 62% in both the dietary supplements and F&B market (Global, CAGR 2016-2020). 

From children to older people, nootropics have a significant role to play on the cognition market, asserts Nexira. 

Other major claims for nootropics revolve around memory, mental focus, alertness, clarity, performance, stamina, antistress, anxiolytic, comforting and soothing properties.

Edited by Elizabeth Green