Neuriva
Pros
- Uses phosphatidylserine, a proven and effective nootropic
Cons
- Contains just two ingredients
- Whole coffee fruit extract does nothing
- Extremely expensive for what it is
- Other nootropics provide many more ingredients at better doses for the same price
Neuriva Review Summary
Neuriva is about as basic a brain supplement as you can get. With just two ingredients, Neuriva is never going to deliver the same benefits as a comprehensive nootropic stack. Of its two ingredients, only phosphatidylserine is actually proven to have any effect on memory, focus or brain health. The whole coffee fruit extract is a gimmicky waste of time and money. The only studies showing it having any benefits were done by the manufacturer. Better nootropics are available.
Neuriva Brain Performance Review: What does it do?
Neuriva, or Neuriva Brain Performance as it is also known, is one of the most talked-about nootropic stacks on the market today. Made by Schiff Vitamins (who are owned by Reckitt Benckiser Group), Neuriva is a brain supplement launched just a couple of years ago.
Like many popular brain supplements on the market today (Prevagen and Cognium), Neuriva claims to provide overall brain health support and cognitive enhancement. The website claims the following Neuriva benefits:
- Enhanced focus
- Better reactions
- Improved memory function
- Better learning
- Enhanced concentration
Obviously, Neuriva Brain Performance is sold as a complete, full spectrum nootropic designed to support brain health and cognitive performance in both the short and long-term.
The question this Neuriva review needs to answer is, does Neuriva really work? Is Neuriva any good? Does it cause side effects? Is it the best nootropic on sale today? Read our full Neuriva review below and find out!
Neuriva Ingredients
What ingredients are in Neuriva? Do the Neuriva ingredients work to enhance focus, memory and clarity?
These are the most important questions for Neuriva reviews to answer. After all, it is the ingredients that make a brain supplement!
Here is the Neuriva ingredients list as it appears on the bottle:
Here is a list of the Neuriva ingredients with doses:
- Coffee fruit extract – 100mg
- Phosphatidylserine – 100mg
That’s it! Neuriva is a two-ingredient nootropic stack. This is considerbaly less than most top nootropics on the market today – high-spec brain supplements tend to use 8-12 ingredients to deliver total cognitive enhancement. Can Neuriva do more with less?
We will now go through each Neuriva ingredient individually, explaining what it does, how it works, and how it fits into this stack. Please post any questions you might have in the comments section at the end. For a more detailed analysis, see our in-depth guide on this formula: Neuriva ingredients.
Coffee fruit extract – 100mg
Coffee fruit extract is touted as a new and exciting nootropic ingredient. According to Schiff Vitamins, the NeuroFactor coffee fruit extract used in Neuriva has been clinically proven to increase levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor. This neuropeptide is an extremely important brain chemical; it is responsible for regulating the growth, proliferation, development and differentiation of neurons within the brain. Raising BDNF is one of the most fundamental ways to enhance overall cognitive function in both the short and long term.
However, we have some serious doubts about the ability of whole coffee fruit extract to raise BDNF in the brain by a meaningful amount. So far, the only studies we’ve ever seen showing that coffee berry extracts raise BDNF have been carried out and published by the makers of NeuroFactor. No independent studies show a major increase of BDNF in the brain following the consumption of this Neuriva ingredient.
It’s therefore quite disappointing to see that whole coffee fruit extract is one of just two Neuriva ingredients. Even if it is NeuroFactor – a higher quality extract doesn’t help if the extract doesn’t really work!
Phosphatidylserine – 100mg
Phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid found naturally in small amounts in foods such as soy and sunflower oil. It is a vital constituent of brain cell membranes, and it plays an integral part in cell signalling. Low levels of phosphatidylserine means impaired brain cell maintenance, reduced brain cell growth, and poor cell recycling (phosphatidylserine is an important signal in cell death and renewal).
Unfortunately, your phosphatidylserine levels decline naturally as you age. The problem is made worse by diets devoid of phosphatidylserine or the kind of phospholipids which can be used to make it. This is why supplementing with phosphatidylserine is so effective and so important as you age.
Studies have shown that supplementing with phosphatidylserine is highly effective for improving memory, focus and mental clarity. It is easily one of the best nootropics for memory, focus and brain health. The 100mg of phosphatidylserine in Neuriva is more than enough for you to see benefits. However, it is important that you use phosphatidylserine on a daily basis for several weeks or benefits will be minimal.
Analysis of Neuriva’s Formula: Is this a good nootropic?
Does Neuriva really work?
That’s the main question that people want answering when they come to a review of Neuriva Brain Performance. So, does it?
Well, after look at Neuriva’s ingredients list, we have no idea how this stack is supposed to deliver on all of its promises.
Neuriva promises to deliver full spectrum cognitive enhancement; improved focus, better memory function, greater clarity, and more. These are similar claims to those made by comprehensive nootropic stacks using 8-12 different cognitive enhancers.
Yet Neuriva contains just two ingredients. Of these, only one is actually a well-proven nootropic shown to definitely work in clinical trials.
The makers of NeuroFactor may claim that coffee cherry extract can boost BDNF levels, but there are no independent human clinical studies proving this to be true.
Neuriva is also missing most of the ingredients which make for a great daily nootropic stack.
Overall, Neuriva just can’t compete with the best, most powerful nootropics on the market today. When it comes to supporting long-term brain cell health, Neuriva is mediocre. When it comes to rapidly raising focus and processing speeds, Neuriva has nothing to offer at all.
By contrast, the best nootropics on sale today offer a comprehensive mix of ingredients which enhance cognitive function and brain health in different ways. These supplements can rapidly sharpen focus, boost working memory, reduce stress, and bolster brain cell health.
Neuriva cannot do all of these things with just 100mg of phosphatidylserine and some coffee bean extract. Not a chance.
Pros and Cons of Neuriva Brain Performance
What are the pros and cons of Neuriva’s formula? Here is a quick overview of Neuriva’s pros and cons for those of you who don’t have time to read our full Neuriva review.
Benefits of Neuriva
- Good serving of Phosphatidylserine
- Should support healthy brain cell maintenance as you age
- Very low side effect risks
Negatives of Neuriva
- No ingredients to boost focus and processing speeds in the short term
- Missing several ingredients typical in full spectrum nootropics
- NeuroFactor has never been proven to work in independent clinical trials
- Extremely expensive for a two-ingredient nootropic stack
- Other stacks offer total cognitive enhancement, neuroplasticity support and brain health support for less money than Neuriva
Neuriva Original vs Neuriva Plus: What’s the difference?
What’s the difference between Neuriva Original and Neuriva Plus?
The simple answer is, not much!
There is very little difference between Neuriva Original and Neuriva Plus.
Here is the Neuriva Brain Performance Plus ingredients list which you can compare to Neuriva Original ingredients above:
As you can see, the primarily differences are the larger doses of the two main ingredients, plus the introduction of some B vitamins.
Unfortunately, these changes do not make Neuriva Plus significantly better than Neuriva Original.
More NeuroFactor doesn’t make Neuriva Plus a better nootropic since it doesn’t seem to do anything anyway! Phosphatidylserine does not have a linear dosage effect; doses of more than 100mg do not produce more benefits. The B vitamins may support healthy brain cell maintenance and nerve function over time, but they are never going to make a noticeable difference to your focus, learning, memory or mental energy.
Given the stark price difference between Neuriva Original and Neuriva Plus, we don’t see the point in spending the extra money to get Neuriva Plus.
In buying Neuriva Plus you are paying a significantly higher price for very little extra benefit, if any at all! It would be better to ignore Neuriva Plus and spend the extra money on a good multivitamin, caffeine pill or omega 3 supplement.
You can learn more about Neuriva Plus from our Neuriva Plus review.
Neuriva vs Prevagen Review: Which is better?
Which is better, Neuriva or Prevagen?
This is a really easy question for us to answer.
Neuriva and Prevagen both claim to boost multiple aspects of your cognitive function. However, there are differences. While Prevagen claims to specifically enhance your memory, Neuriva claims to boost a wider array of mental functions, including focus, memory, brain cell health, and mental clarity.
But we’re not really interested in what the makers of these nootropics claim. We are only interested in finding out which brain supplement is better between Neuriva and Prevagen.
In terms of prvoding benefits and good value for money, Neuriva is the hands-down winner. This nootropic stack offers signifciantly better value for money than Prevagen, and users are far more likely to see noticeable improvements in memory, focus and clarity over the long-term.
Neuriva Side Effects: Is it safe?
Does Neuriva have side effects?
There are no known side effects of Neuriva. Neuriva’s ingredients are very safe to use. All of the ingredients in Neuriva are 100% natural. Clinical trials do not report any significant side effects from Neuriva’s ingredients. The claims on the benefits of the nootropic are not FDA-approved and this product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.
Users do not usually report any adverse effects from Neuriva, and there is no evidence that Neuriva’s ingredients cause side effects long-term.
People have asked us if Neuriva has any caffeine since it uses a coffee berry extract. The answer is that Neuriva does not contain a meaningful amount of caffeine. NeuroFactor is a decaffeinated coffee berry extract. While it is impossible for you to remove ALL of the caffeine from coffee beans, the process does typically remove 99%.
A small number of people have reported experiencing some side effects from large doses of phosphatidylserine. These side effects include:
- Anxiety
- High cortisol levels
- Poor memory function
However, these side effects of phosphatidylserine are extremely rare and typically very mild. There is actually no conclusive proof that these side effects are caused by phosphatidylserine.
So overall, yes Neuriva appears to be very safe for regular, long-term use.
Learn more: Neuriva side effects guide.
Neuriva Cost: How much is it?
How much does Neuriva Brain Performance cost?
Neuriva Original costs $32.99 per bottle. Each bottle contains 30 capsules, and a standard serving is 1 capsule. This means Neuriva costs $1.06 per day.
While this is cheaper than many of the best nootropics on the market right now, we still don’t think Neuriva is worth the money. You are paying $1.06 per day for a stack that is essentially just phosphatidylserine and coffee fruit powder. The latter is totally unproven, and the former can be bought for cheaper than $32.99 a bottle!
So what about Neuriva Plus?
Neuriva Plus is even worse value for money than Neuriva Original!
Neuriva Plus costs $49.49 per bottle. This works out at $1.59 per day. Again, this is cheaper than many of the top focus and memory supplements today. But it still isn’t good value for money.
The only difference between Neuriva Plus and Neuriva Original is a larger dose of coffee fruit powder and some added B vitamins. Is more coffee fruit extract and some B vitamins worth an extra 60 cents a day?
Nope!
Neuriva Plus doesn’t provide anything meaningful that you don’t get from Neuriva Original, and that nootropic stack is already over-priced!
Neuriva Brain Performance Reviews: What are other people saying?
What are other people saying about Neuriva? It is always worth looking at Neuriva reviews posted online by actual users.
Of course, Neuriva reviews from users are never going to be 100% helpful and reliable. But user reviews of Neuriva can give you a good idea of whether or not Neuriva is a scam.
Here is a selection of Neuriva reviews taken from Amazon, CVS and Mayo Clinic:
There is no Mayo Clinic Neuriva review. Nor are there any Neuriva reviews on WebMD or Reddit. However, all of these sites have raised serious concerns about Neuriva’s whole coffee fruit extract.
Neuriva Reviews FAQs
Q: What time of day is best to take Neuriva?
A: Bedtime is the best time of day to take Neuriva according to Schiff Vitamins. However, we can’t see any reason why Neuriva might be more effective when taken at night. Phosphatidylserine enhances cognition over weeks and months; it doesn’t matter when you take it.
Q: Does Neuriva cause headaches?
A: Headaches is a common side effect of Neuriva Brain Performance. Headaches from Neuriva should dissipate after stopping the supplement.
Q: Does phosphatidylserine make you sleepy?
A: No, phosphatidylserine does not make you sleepy. Phosphatidylserine can cause mild drowsiness or, paradoxically, insomnia if taken too close to bedtime.
Q: Does Neuriva interact with medications?
A: Yes, Neuriva does interact with some medication. A total of 17 drugs are known to interact with Neuriva Brain performance Plus and Neuriva Original. These are categorized as 3 major, 13 moderate, and 1 minor interactions.
Q: How many Neuriva Gummies should I take?
A: Adults over 18 are advised to take 2 Neuriva Gummies daily. Taking larger doses of Neuriva Gummies will not yield better results.
Neuriva Review Conclusion: Is it any good?
Is Neuriva any good?
Neuriva isn’t any good compared to any of the best nootropics on sale right now. Neuriva does not work for everyone and it is expensive compared to other top nootropics. With only two ingredients, Neuriva doesn’t usually cause any side effects. But, Neuriva also has few benefits compared to the top brain supplements today.
So whether or not Neuriva is the right nootropic for you really depends on what you are looking to get from a brain supplement.
If you want a very expensive way to consume phosphatidylserine and coffee berry extract, but with practically no side effect risks, then Neuriva may not be the worst nootropic for you.
But if you are looking for a full spectrum, comprehensive nootropic stack which enhances every aspect of cognitive performance for the long term, then there are far better nootropics out there than Neuriva.
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.
I have been using Neuriva Plus for several months and have noticed a considerable decline in memory and focus. Am stopping it today
Hi Marcia, thanks for sharing your experience with Neuriva Plus. It’s really surprising to hear you experienced such a big decline in cognitive function after using Neuriva. Our main issue with Neuriva is that it probably doesn’t do very much and is over-priced; we would assume it was benign rather than counter-productive! Please update us and let us know how you get on after stopping.
Well, THAT certainly changed my mind! Thank you!
My husband and I have been taking Original Neuriva for two months. We both can tell a difference. Now our memory is not what it was when we were in our 20’s but our memory recall is so much better. And we can stay focused with better attention on the task at hand. I can’t say it’s for everybody but it is making a difference for both of us.
Hi Gail, thanks for sharing your Neuriva experiences here, it really helps people reading these reviews. Our advice to you would be to consider buying phosphatidylserine by itself and drinking more coffee (decaf if you don’t want the caffeine). That way you’d be getting the exact same benefits as Neuriva but without the large price tag!