One of the changes many people experience as they age is a decline in memory and cognitive ability. It becomes common to forget names easily or what one was about to do, while memories from long ago remain vivid, but yesterday's lunch menu is forgotten. Most attribute this to aging, but experts emphasize that memory decline cannot be explained solely as a natural aging phenomenon.

The simultaneous influence of 'inevitable changes' such as aging and 'controllable factors' like lifestyle habits can rapidly accelerate the decline in cognitive ability.

Brain function begins to decline gradually from the mid-30s. The volume of the hippocampus, responsible for memory, decreases, and the connections between nerve cells weaken, slowing information processing speed. While this is a natural physiological change, the problem is that poor lifestyle habits further accelerate this weakening. Lack of sleep disrupts the brain's process of storing and organizing memories, and lack of exercise reduces blood flow to the brain, promoting hippocampal atrophy. Stress and depression lead to excessive secretion of cortisol, which damages nerve cells, while high-sugar diets, alcohol consumption, and smoking cause brain cell damage and blood flow disorders. Chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia also cause vascular cognitive decline, increasing the risk of dementia.

Experts agree that "attributing memory and cognitive decline merely to aging is a mistake" and advise that "lifestyle habits such as sleep, exercise, mental stimulation, and social activities should be actively managed from now on." They also suggest that appropriately supplementing nutrients that help improve memory can be beneficial.

Phosphatidylserine, a Key Role in Brain Cell Signal Transmission

Phosphatidylserine is a component considered a representative functional ingredient for brain health. It is a type of phospholipid that makes up cell membranes and is particularly abundant inside the membranes of brain nerve cells. It plays an important role in maintaining the brain's signal transmission system by regulating the activity of neurotransmitter receptors and activating connections between nerve cells.

However, as one ages, the concentration of phosphatidylserine in nerve cell membranes naturally decreases, reducing signal transmission efficiency, which can easily lead to memory decline and cognitive impairment. In fact, phosphatidylserine is essential, comprising more than 10% of the brain cell membrane, which is why the need for external supplementation has been raised.

Phosphatidylserine is a plant-based ingredient extracted from soybeans and has been recognized for its 'cognitive and memory improvement functionality' by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Several studies have reported significant improvements in various cognitive functions, such as learning cognition, memory recall ability, and face-name association recognition ability, when 300 mg was consumed daily for 12 weeks. Positive changes were also confirmed in clinical trials targeting patients with mild cognitive impairment and adults aged 50 to 90 in areas such as short-term memory, verbal fluency, concentration, and mental flexibility.

Ginkgo Leaf Extract, Neuroprotective and Brain Blood Flow Improvement Effects

Ginkgo leaf extract is also a scientifically proven ingredient for memory improvement. Previously known mainly as a blood circulation enhancer, its use in the field of brain function improvement has recently expanded.

The main components of ginkgo leaf extract are flavonoids, ginkgolides, and bilobalide. Flavonoids reduce nerve cell damage through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, ginkgolides inhibit platelet-activating factors to prevent thrombus formation, and bilobalide protects nerve cells by stabilizing mitochondria. The combined action of these components improves brain blood circulation, facilitating oxygen and nutrient supply and promoting nerve synapse generation.

These effects have been confirmed in numerous human trials. In a study where 333 Alzheimer's patients and 71 vascular dementia patients consumed ginkgo leaf extract for 24 weeks, improvements were observed in both cognitive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Consistent memory improvement effects were also observed in trials conducted on postmenopausal women and young adults.

Experts explain that "phosphatidylserine and ginkgo leaf extract have different mechanisms of action, so a synergistic effect can be expected when consumed together." They advise that it is important to actively respond to memory decline not just as a natural aging process but through lifestyle improvement and nutritional management.

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