Neuriva Plus
Pros
- Contains a good dose of phosphatidylserine
- Forskolin is known to improve memory function in older people
Cons
- Extremely expensive for what you get
- Only difference from Neuriva is added B vitamins and more coffee powder
- Coffee fruit extract has never been shown to have nootropic effects
Neuriva Plus Review Summary
There is really not much difference between Neuriva and Neuriva Plus. The only thing that separates the two nootropics is that Neuriva Plus contains more coffee fruit extract and it has added B vitamins. While folate is a very good supplement for long-term brain health, these changes to the formula do not justify the significantly higher cost of Neuriva Plus. There is no way that this stack can improve focus, memory, learning and mental clarity like they say it can, not with this formula! Better nootropics are out there!
Neuriva Plus Review: What is Neuriva Plus?
For those of you that have read our Neuriva Brain Performance evaluation, you will probably have considered whether Neuriva Plus might be a better option for you. Our review of the original Neuriva isn’t particularly positive, so is Neuriva Plus any better?
According to Schiff Vitamins, Neuriva Plus is an improved version of the original Neuriva nootropic stack. They claim that this nootropic stack can support:
- Focus
- Memory
- Learning
- Accuracy
- Concentration
- Reasoning
More specifically, Schiff Vitamins claim that Neuriva Plus helps you to “focus in and filter out distractions”, and to react with “greater speed and precision”. The manufacturer also claims that Neuriva Plus supports overall brain health over the long-term.
This sounds like a complete package nootropic. The manufacturer certainly claims this is one of the best nootropics money can buy. The question is, how much of this is actually true?
Is Neuriva Plus any better than the original Neuriva Brain Performance nootropic stack? Can Neuriva Plus really do any of the things it promises to do? Is it safe or will it cause side effects? Is it the best nootropic for memory on the market today? Read our full Neuriva Plus review below to find out!
Neuriva Plus Ingredients
What ingredients are in Neuriva Plus?
This is the most important question for any review of Neuriva Plus to answer, since it is the ingredients which make a nootropic a dud, a rip-off or an effective brain supplement.
Here is the Neuriva Plus ingredients list as it looks on the bottle:
And here is a list of the ingredients in Neuriva Plus along with dosages:
- Vitamin B6 – 100% RDI
- Folate – 170% RDI
- Vitamin B12 – 100%
- Coffee fruit extract – 200mg
- Phosphatidylserine – 100mg
We will now go through each ingredient in Neuriva Plus one by one and explain what they do – or don’t do – for brain health and cognitive performance. In each case, we’ll look at any clinical evidence backing up the use of the ingredient as a cognitive enhancer. Then we’ll look at the formula as a whole.
Vitamin B6 – 100% RDI
Vitamin B6 is essential for energy metabolism at the cellular level. Having low levels of B6 will mean your cells cannot release energy from food very efficiently. This applies to your brain cells too, which is why a B6 deficiency is closely correlated with reported mental fatigue, brain fog and sluggishness. Studies suggest supplementing with B6 can increase mental energy, but the effect is not very large – it is barely measurable and can definitely not usually be ‘felt’ by the user.
Folate – 170% RDI
Folate is another name for Vitamin B3. This B vitamin actually seems to have a strong effect on cognitive performance and brain health over the long-term. Low levels of folate – or more specifically folic acid – have been found to correlate closely with poor cognitive performance in old age.
More interestingly, clinical trials have found that supplementing with folate may be effective for protecting memory function in old age. More research is needed but so far results look promising. Again though, the effect is relatively small here.
Vitamin B12 – 100%
People typically associate B12 supplements with increased energy levels. While B12 does play a key role in energy metabolism, it is also vital for the creation and maintenance of nerve cells. This includes the nerve cells which make up your brain’s neuronal networks.
Supplementing with B12 supports neuron maintenance and development over the long-term, especially in people who do not consume much B12 on a daily basis through food. However, once again the effect is very small; this Neuriva Plus ingredient is not going to make a measurable difference to your day-to-day cognitive performance.
Coffee fruit extract – 200mg
Coffee fruit extract is one of the two main ingredients in Neuriva Plus. The B vitamins are really supporting ingredients, while coffee fruit extract and phosphatidylserine are really the main meat of the Neuriva Plus formula. Neuriva Plus contains twice the coffee fruit extract than Neuriva original. Unfortunately, we don’t think this is going to deliver any extra benefits.
According to the Neuriva Plus website, coffee fruit extract is a potent nootropic which promotes the release of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain. BDNF is a neurotrophic factor which controls the growth and maintenance of neurons. The problem here is that no independent clinical trial has ever shown that coffee fruit extract actually does increase BDNF!
Phosphatidylserine – 100mg
Phosphatidylserine is perhaps the only true nootropic ingredient in Neuriva Plus. This is the only Neuriva Plus ingredient which has actually been shown in independent clinical trials to have a meaningful effect on cognitive performance and brain health. As a phospholipid, phosphatidylserine is used to make brain cell membranes.
Low levels of phosphatidylserine in old age are correlated with poor cognitive performance. More importantly, supplementing with phosphatidylserine has been shown to significantly improve cognitive function in older people showing early signs of cognitive decline and memory loss. The 100mg of phosphatidylserine we get from Neuriva Plus is a good dose.
Formula Review: Does Neuriva Plus really work?
Can Neuriva Plus really do any of the things it promises to do?
We don’t think so. This is really not the comprehensive, powerful brain supplement that people claim, and it certainly doesn’t look capable of improving brain function in the short-term as it claims.
The formula only really contains one powerful proven nootropic – phosphatidylserine. And while this natural nootropic does definitely support better memory function and learning over the long-term, it doesn’t pack much of a ‘punch’. The benefits of phosphatidylserine only really start to manifest after several months at least, so it cannot help deliver the immediate increase in focus and mental clarity promised by Neuriva Plus.
The only other real nootropic ingredient is coffee fruit extract. Despite a lot of noise from supplement manufacturers, there is actually no concrete scientific proof that consuming coffee fruit extract raises BDNF levels enough to have an effect on focus, learning, memory or overall brain function. Even if coffee fruit extract does raise BDNF levels as advertised, there’s no reason to think it does so any more than simply drinking coffee will!
The rest of the Neuriva Plus formula is just B vitamins. While important for overall brain health and development, this is nothing to get excited about. We have no idea how the added B vitamins are supposed to deliver all of the extra benefits promised by Neuriva Plus.
In fact, the only benefit we think people will get from Neuriva Plus is long-term memory support. All the claims about focus, processing speeds, reaction times etc. are totally unjustifiable. There is nothing in the Neuriva Plus ingredients to deliver those benefits!
Neuriva Plus Reviews & Complaints
Let’s take a quick look at some of the Neuriva Plus reviews and complaints posted elsewhere online. Obviously user reviews can’t always be trusted, and they are never conducted under the conditions we apply to our own reviews, but they still tell us something about a nootropic.
Here is a selection of Neuriva Plus complaints and reviews taken from various places online:
Neuriva Plus Side Effects: Is it safe?
One of the main benefits of Neuriva Plus is that it looks very safe. Neuriva Plus is highly unlikely to cause any side effects for any users, even when taken daily for long periods of time without breaks or cycling.
All of the ingredients in Neuriva Plus have been tested in trials using human subjects, and none have been found to be dangerous or to cause notable side effects. Of course, these studies have also not found some of Neuriva Plus’ main ingredient to be very effective either!
Neuriva Plus is not very different to Neuriva original in that regard; neither nootropic stack is likely to cause any side effects whatsoever.
That said, you are always opening yourself up to side effect risks when taking a new supplement like Neuriva Plus. Some Neuriva Plus users have reported mild side effects while taking the nootropic. These side effects have included headaches, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and bloating. If you experience any of these Neuriva Plus side effects, stop using the nootropic immediately and seek medical attention.
Does Neuriva Plus have caffeine?
Neuriva Plus contains coffee fruit extract (coffee fruit is another name for coffee bean). As such, people often ask if Neuriva Plus contains caffeine, or whether they should be taking it before bedtime.
So, does Neuriva Plus contain caffeine?
The answer is technically no. The coffee fruit extract in Neuriva Plus has gone through a decaffeination process. While this removes the vast majority of the caffeine in the extract, it is practically impossible to remove 100% of the caffeine in a coffee powder.
However, in terms of taking Neuriva Plus before bedtime, there shouldn’t be an issue. The amount of caffeine in Neuriva Plus will be negligible. It certainly shouldn’t be enough to disrupt sleep or to cause any side effects like coffee or caffeine pills are known to.
Neuriva Plus Vs Neuriva Original
Which is the better nootropic, Neuriva or Neuriva Plus?
After reviewing both formulas in detail, we can honestly say that there is very little difference between Neuriva and Neuriva Plus.
Neither nootropic stack looks capable of delivering even a quarter of the benefits listed on the Schiff Vitamins website. The original Neuriva formula contains only coffee fruit and phosphatidylserine; of these, only the latter has any verified, proven nootropic benefits.
Neuriva Plus provides more coffee fruit extract (which doesn’t do anything), and some added B Vitamins. That is the only difference between Neuriva and Neuriva Plus; the ingredients in Neuriva are the same as in Plus, minus some B vitamins and about half the dose of coffee fruit. This does not justify the added claims of Neuriva Plus regarding increased focus, reaction times, processing speeds, and mental energy.
Another thing it does not justify is the price tag. There is a significant price difference between Neuriva and Neuriva Plus – the original formula costs $32.99, while Neuriva Plus costs $49.49.
Does more coffee powder and some B vitamins really justify an extra $17 for Neuriva Plus?
We don’t think so.
There are far better nootropics out there right now than Neuriva Plus. For instance our current top rated nootropic, NooCube, provides far more comprehensive benefits than Neuriva Plus and it costs just $29.99 per bottle when you purchase the multi-box deal.
Looking For Something That Really Works?
See Our Current #1 Rated Cognitive Enhancer: Nooceptin
Nooceptin is our current top rated nootropic. We tried Nooceptin ourselves and found that it works exactly as advertised. Taken together, the ingredients rapidly increase focus, accelerate mental processing speeds, and enhance working memory.
Nooceptin is a truly comprehensive nootropic, providing both immediate and long-term benefits. It does not cause side effects and is considerably better value than other nootropic stacks on the market today.
Nooceptin has been found to effectively:
- ✔️ Boost Overall Cognitive Function
- ✔️ Improve Memory
- ✔️ Enable Better Communication
- ✔️ Enhance Concentration
- ✔️ Improve Multi-tasking
- ✔️ Boost Mental Energy
The really special thing about Nooceptin, however, is its long-term effects. When taken daily for prolonged periods, Nooceptin stimulates neuron growth and improves overall brain cell health. This means it enhances cognition in a deep, meaningful way that keeps giving you benefits after you stop using it.
Simply put, Nooceptin is the ideal brain supplement for people who need to mentally perform at 100% capacity for hours on end. At $69.99 per course, we think it's hard to find a more effective and cost-effective nootropic right now.
Brian Johnson is current Editor of Vagarights.com and a long-time writer for VAGA. A former psychologist, Brian is passionate about improving mental health and finding ways to stave off cognitive decline. He is an expert on nootropics, cognitive enhancement and biohacking more broadly. You can see his work on Google scholar.
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