We answer some of the most commonly asked questions for our focus factor review
The main issue with the Focus Factor ingredients is the proprietary blend. We simply don’t know what’s in it. They share the ingredients but not the amounts. This means we don’t know if beneficial ingredients in the blend, such as vinpocetine (which increases blood flow to the brain and protects neurones), are included at effective dosages.
We always warn our readers to stay away from proprietary blends for this reason. Top-quality products, such as Hunter Focus (read full review here), do not hide their ingredients, they provide a transparent breakdown of exactly what’s in the formula.
So, taking this inherent drawback into account, let’s turn to the ingredients themselves and ignore the question of dosages for now. Due to the high number of ingredients in this nootropic, we’re going to focus on a selection of the most note-worthy ingredients.
Vitamin B6 - Important in the creation of neurotransmitters that carrier chemical messages around the brain. With a 15mg dose included in every capsule, you’ll be getting all the B6 you need with Focus Factor.
Vitamin D - An excellent all-around health booster, vitamin D is also a neuroprotective vitamin that improves overall brain function and increases immune system efficiency. Focus Factor includes only a very small dose of vitamin D. Even considering the number of capsules you are supposed to take each day, you’re still not getting close to a decent amount of vitamin D.
Niacin - Protects brain cells from stress and injury. Niacin deficiencies are also known to cause memory loss.
Dimethylaminoethanol - Included at an unknown amount in the proprietary blend, dimethylaminoethanol is nonetheless a powerful brain-boosting ingredient. It is known to increase the production of acetylcholine, which is a vital neurotransmitter.
Vinpocetine - Used in many countries to treat cerebrovascular disorders (stroke, dementia), vinpocetine is a verified memory improver and brain function booster. As with dimethylaminoethanol, vinpocetine is part of the proprietary blend and as such we have no idea how much is actually included.
Bacopin - Also in the proprietary blend is bacopa, listed under the registered name Bacopin. Bacopa is a plant extract used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It is thought to increase thinking capacity and memory. It has also been suggested that bacopa might help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Its ability to improve cognitive ability has been proven.
L-glutamine - An essential source of energy for your nervous system, glutamine also boosts the production of two types of neurotransmitters. Unfortunately, due once again to the proprietary blend, we have no idea how much L-glutamine is included in Focus Factor.
Boron - Another proprietary blend ingredient is boron, which is known to boost brain activity and increase short-term memory performance. It also improves hand-eye coordination.
Phosphatidylserine - This substance wraps itself around brain cells to protect them and acts as a messenger between cells. As you age your body struggles to produce this and the total amount in the brain will decrease.
Docosahexaenoic Acid Concentrate - Essentially, this is just fish oil, which is perhaps the most commonly recognised and most widely used cognitive booster around. Focus Factor includes a blend of anchovy, sardine, and salmon oils.
Vitamin A - While vital for life, it is unclear what role vitamin A plays in daily brain function. The B vitamins are generally considered the most important for cognitive performance. There is little to no evidence suggesting vitamin A will improve concentration, memory, or brain functioning in a significant way.
Focus Factor also offers a supplement specifically formulated for children called Focus Factor Kids. However, the effectiveness and necessity of nootropic supplements for children are highly questionable. Medical evidence supporting the use of nootropics in children is limited, and it is generally recommended to avoid such supplements until the brain has completed its development.
Focus Factor Kids contains a vitamin and mineral blend similar to Focus Factor Original, with the addition of added sugars such as fructose and sucrose. Consumption of fructose has been shown to have negative impacts on brain development, making it advisable for children and adolescents to avoid fructose intake altogether.
Moreover, the low overall dosage of the prop blend in Focus Factor Kids raises concerns about its effectiveness.
The mere 10.5 milligrams, equivalent to 3.5 milligrams per active ingredient, is unlikely to provide any substantial benefit.
While some ingredients like Coenzyme Q10 have shown potential in age-related cognitive decline, it is important to note that children have naturally higher levels of CoQ10 during adolescence, making supplementation unnecessary.