Which is better, Prevagen or Ginkgo Biloba?
I analyze these two brain supplements face to face in order to see which one will work better for you.
[QUICK SUMMARY]: While neither Ginkgo nor Prevagen make it on my top 3 list, Ginkgo Biloba is the better option.
With hundreds of years of traditional usage and many clinical trials, Ginkgo is a well-known memory enhancer that helps to improve blood flow to your brain – thus contributing to better brain cell function and health.
Although it’s not the best nootropic around, and although it can’t do miracles alone, Ginkgo is superior to Prevagen, which only has 2 ingredients – one being vitamin D which I get from the sun and the other being Apoaequorin, a jellyfish protein that isn’t proven to work.
In a hurry? Here’s my quick Wrap Up
Unfortunately none of them made it to my Top 3 List, each one with its various drawbacks and side effects.
As for me, Mind Lab Pro is the best option available right now.
Prevagen is all the rage in the nootropic world these days; this brain health supplement consists of only 2 ingredients, and it promises to help you with memory and cognitive function.
Ginkgo Biloba, on the other hand, is one of the oldest trees on Earth, and many people associate it with brain health.
Ginkgo Biloba’s leaves have been used for medicinal purposes for over 2,000 years.
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The leaves have historically been linked with memory benefits – especially in the elderly.
However, I’m here to tell you that Ginkgo isn’t just for older people. It’s a very underrated brain health ingredient among the youth, who might benefit from its nootropic activities just as much as old-school users.
So, Prevagen vs Ginkgo Biloba… which one takes the win? And can they compete with the current market leaders? Let’s dig deeper to find out!
– Both supplements are available on Amazon –
Get Prices: Prevagen | Ginkgo Biloba
The Basics
Prevagen
Made by Quincy Bioscience, Prevagen is a popular brain supplement that claims to help with memory loss linked to aging. It’s marketed as the number one selling memory support product in stores.
- In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, Prevagen demonstrated the ability to improve aspects of cognitive function in subgroups of participants who were cognitively normal or mildly impaired.* The group of participants taking Prevagen improved according to computer-based testing.* The adults were over 40 years old and took one capsule daily for 90 days
- Apoaequorin, the unique ingredient in Prevagen, has undergone extensive SAFETY TESTING. Tests for allergenicity and toxicity have been conducted. Third party experts agree that PREVAGEN IS SAFE
- Prevagen Extra Strength comes in an EASY TO SWALLOW capsule. For best results, just take ONE A DAY, in the morning, with or without food
- According to a 2024-2025 survey conducted by Pharmacy Times of pharmacists who recommend memory support products, Prevagen was the #1 recommended Memory Support brand
- Includes a Prevagen 7-day Pill Minder to help you stay organized. BPA free, letters & braille for days of the week
But can it live up to the hype?
Well,I’m not so sure about that! There are a number of things about Prevagen that I feel are unfair.
- For one, the company that makes Prevagen has been sued by The Federal Trade Commission for false advertising claims and deception of its users.
Prevagen’s makers didn’t seem to care much, as they continue to run the same advertisements to this day. Their commercials include jellyfish graphics, where Prevagen’s active ingredient is sourced from.
Another issue with Prevagen is that it only has two ingredients, one of which probably doesn’t work. More on that in the next section.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is one of the better known nootropics for improving cognition, memory, and mental clarity that are mildly impaired by aging or other factors.
- SUPPORTS HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION (1) Nature’s Bounty Ginkgo Biloba helps to maintain healthy circulation; support healthy brain function and mental alertness (1)
- FOR MEMORY SUPPORT (1) Ginkgo Biloba helps to support memory and mental alertness; perfect for occasional mild memory problems associated with aging (1)
- AN ANCIENT HERBAL INGREDIENT Ginkgo Biloba was used in China in the 15th century for its healthy properties and remains a popular herbal supplement today
- QUALITY IS OUR PRIORITY Nature’s Bounty Ginkgo Biloba is non GMO; gluten free; sugar free; contains no milk or lactose; and is free of artificial colors; flavors and sweeteners
- FROM THE TRUSTED WELLNESS EXPERTS: Nature’s Bounty Ginkgo Biloba is a product of 50 years of dedication to quality; consistency and scientific research
- For reference, the term ‘nootropic’ relates to dietary supplements that have been shown through clinical trials to naturally improve brain function.
As for Ginkgo Biloba, it was one of the most famous memory pills back in the day. It was particularly popular amongst people aged 55 and beyond to keep their brain function sharp.
But over time, Ginkgo’s popularity faded away, overtaken by fancier stacks and commercially hyped nootropics.
Benefits
Prevagen’s manufacturers say that this product helps with mild memory loss linked to aging. Other potential benefits include:
- Sharper mental function
- Clearer thinking
- Healthy cognition
As for Ginkgo Biloba, its benefits mostly revolve around mental clarity and reducing brain fog. It can also help in cases of:
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Memory decline
How They Work
Prevagen
Prevagen only contains 2 ingredients – vitamin D and Apoaequorin. Vitamin D is a great choice; this nutrient is needed for countless functions in your body.
Including testosterone production, mood and mental health.
However, unless you’re severely deficient in it, vitamin D alone won’t have much of an impact on your cognitive function.
As for the other ingredient, Apoaequorin, it’s sourced from a glowing jellyfish found in seas around North America.
If you look it up online, you’ll see loads of marketing claims on Apoaequorin. This ingredient is supposed to help with memory, focus, and cognitive function.
But what’s the real truth? Well, it doesn’t look nearly as nice as the marketing claims! The evidence behind Apoaequorin is very weak. One company-funded study showed some positive results, but the rest of the research looks disappointing. (2)
The problem with this ingredient is that it gets destroyed in your gut before even reaching your brain. Couple that with the lack of clinical evidence, and it’s clear that Apoaequorin is one big letdown.
On the whole, Prevagen’s formula isn’t impressive at all. Other than vitamin D, it has nothing that would want us to recommend this product to anyone. There are much better options available at the moment.
Ginkgo
Ginkgo Biloba can help improve vasodilation, relaxing your blood vessels to boost brain circulation. Ginkgo’s active compounds might also help against blood clotting, making your blood more slippery and free-flowing.
The antioxidants in Ginkgo Biloba are also suggested to protect brain cells from oxidative stress, although, not much evidence is there to confirm all of these rumored benefits of Ginkgo.
Surprisingly, despite being used for thousands of years, Ginkgo is still a relatively under researched compound.
The current evidence is somewhat conflicted; some suggest that Ginkgo might benefit memory and blood flow to the brain, while other evidence says it only works in older people – and the effects themselves aren’t that impressive. (1)
A single-ingredient nootropic like Ginkgo is good, but it can’t provide the same level of cognitive support as proven nootropic stacks with multiple ingredients.
-See This Year’s Top Rated Brain Health Supplements-
Side Effects
Although Prevagen’s makers insist their product doesn’t cause any side effects, some users did report headaches, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, and nausea.
According to WebMD, the main ingredient in Prevagen is “possibly safe” to use for up to 90 days.
However, WebMD also states: “No high-quality research has evaluated side effects caused by apoaequorin.”
As for Ginkgo Biloba, it’s considered safe for most people when taken in the right doses. In some rare cases it might cause stomach upset, allergic skin reaction, and headaches.
If you do experience any side effects from any supplement, discontinue use and call your doctor.
Price
For a product with only two ingredients, Prevagen is a little expensive. Depending on where you buy it, the cost can get as high as $59.95 plus shipping for one month supply. See Prevagen on Amazon by clicking here.
Ginkgo Biloba’s price teeters even more. The cost depends on multiple factors, such as the quality of the Ginkgo extract, the number of capsules, and the brand.
Always make sure to buy from reputable sources! See best Ginkgo Biloba supplements on Amazon by clicking here.
Anything Else to Consider?
Just keep in mind that a supplement isn’t going to solve all of your goals. You should always ensure that you’re eating a good diet and staying active before thinking about taking a supplement to support your cognitive health.
Only when you’ve got your bases covered, you might want to supplement with a high quality, professional brain health supplement that addresses multiple aspects of mental performance.
My Final Words
So, which one is the better option? Ginkgo Biloba or Prevagen? If you’ve been with us throughout this review, it’s pretty clear that the answer here is Ginkgo Biloba.
It’s got more evidence backing it up, whereas Prevagen only has two ingredients, one of which is vitamin D, and the other ingredient doesn’t work.
So, while Ginkgo takes the win here, I don’t currently rate it as one of the very best nootropic supplements available right now.
It’s good for circulation, but then again, so are many other nootropics. And it’s better to stack more than just one ingredient if you want complete brain optimization.
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I’ve picked the top three nootropic stacks that are available to you right now for cognitive support.
