Official Site: perceptabrain.com
Background Check
A March 2018 press release on Percepta Memory is hard to miss on the internet when researching this product. It says “Researchers Launch Percepta: The Natural Plant-Based Memory Supplement” in the headline. This brain enhancer is touted as the first one to target brain plaques and tangles, deemed the real reason people lose memory as they age. Researchers Dr. Alan Snow and Dr. Rudolph Tanzi announced they have found the holy grail of fighting plaques and tangles in the brain through this unique plant-based nootropic nutraceutical.
Supplement Facts: 16/20
Percepta is positioned as a unique daily oral supplement for the normal aging brain. It offers a patented formulation of polyphenol-containing PTI-00703® cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) and a specific oolong tea extract.
Effects and Benefits: 16/20
According to the product brief, no other memory supplement in the world contains PTI-00703® cat’s claw, which is the subject of more than 50 patents and over 29,000 hours of documented scientific research, including studies funded by the National Institute on Aging.
You might be surprised about this ingredient: you don’t really see cat’s claw extracts being used in brain supplements. Cat’s claw is a climbing vine originating from the Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of Central and South America, including countries like Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala.
Potential Side Effects: 17/20
While its manufacturer Cognitive Clarity Inc. claims that Percepta is completely safe with no known side effects, there is little known about the safety as well efficacy of cat’s claw. It may in fact cause adverse reactions in certain people, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, low blood pressure, diarrhea, and vomiting. There’s also a lack of safety studies of the ingredient for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as those under 18 and with medical conditions.
Pricing Options: 16/20
A box of Percepta costs $49.99, with the 60 capsules per box enough for up to 30 days of treatment at a recommended daily dose of two capsules.
Online Reviews: 15/20
Percepta enjoys a relatively huge base of online reviews, mostly positive. This may also be partly attributed to the huge machinery behind the product, a renowned supplement maker and researchers who have built a solid scientific reputation. Yet because it is a relative newcomer in the supplement game, the long-term impact is yet to be determined.
Recap:
Positives:
- Backed by a prestigious company and brain aging researchers
- Patented ingredients
Negatives:
- Two active ingredients are not well-known for cognitive health and enhancement
- Relatively expensive for containing two simple plant-based supplements for brain health
Our Verdict: 80.2%
Percepta is powered by money. That much is clear and for a plant-based supplement with a simple mechanism of action, it has generated for itself so much buzz and attention. The question is: Does it work? It may, but to what degree we don’t know because of the limited scientific research and attention on cat’s claw extract for cognitive enhancement. It’s mostly a wait and see game with Percepta, and when that happens you know you’d want to move on to better quality options right away.
The Best Brain Supplements: Your Complete, Personalized Guide
In such a busy, harried world, people look for all the help they can get.
They’ve got problems remembering things, concentrating in school or focusing on a big work project, or being in the best energy and mood level for family and their personal goals.
Nootropics - also known as “smart pills” and brain enhancement supplements - are designed to help address these cognitive issues and improve memory and learning, focus and concentration, problem solving, and overall energy and vibrancy. These supplements are a potential fit for students (usually college students), professionals and business executives, and the elderly who want to enhance their brain power and performance.
Check the Best Smart Pills
The question, though, is…
Do you know the best brain-enhancing supplement for you?
Our product reviews will answer exactly this. By presenting accurate, up-to-date product information, conducting weeks-long product trial, and raising the alarm on fillers and low-quality ingredients, we’re about to guide you in your decision-making.
We take a long, hard look at the manufacturer, where they manufacture the pill, the website, pricing, customer testimonials, and different authoritative websites that point to how safe and effective a smart pill is.
At the end of it all, we present our Top 5 rated smart pills for your easy reference.
How Do Nootropics Work?
Known by many different names, nootropics act as brain enhancement aids and brain boosters that don’t leave your cognitive wellness to fate.
There are two kinds of nootropics: (1) pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers made up of chemicals believed to have a clear effect on the brain and nervous system, and (2) natural cognitive enhancers, which are mostly herbal or nutrient-based in their composition. Our reviews focus on the second group, which don’t require a prescription, not considered drugs, and thus are allowed to be sold the counter and online via vitamin retail shops like Amazon.
Are natural nootropics actually the savior they’re painted to be?
These plant-based extracts promise improved mental functioning, no less. Their surging popularity, particularly in recent years, can be attributed to their high overall safety value and few and minor side effects compared with their pharmaceutical counterparts.
If you’ve heard of the term “nootropic stack,” it means different herbal or nutrient-based nootropics “stacked” together to achieve your own cognitive targets.
Types of Natural Nootropics
- Neurotransmitter enhancers - These increase the activity of brain chemicals responsible for mental sharpness. Examples are acetylcholine, and other neurotransmitters.
- Vasodilators - Boost blood flow to the brain via widening the blood vessels.
- Antioxidants - Preserve and protect brain cells from the damage caused by free radicals roaming in the body
A high-quality nootropic can change your brain wellness and make you limitless in many different ways. These include enhanced memory, increased attention to detail, outrageously good focus, increased alertness, better mental and visual acuity, improved learning and thinking, managed stress, better mood and energy, and a generally renewed sense of life and brain performance.
This is why this product review guide will help you in so many ways to know a nootropic inside and out. From the ABCs of the product formula to the overall verdict, you will have an informed choice of what to choose for your next nootropic bottle or product.
What Should You Look For In A Top-Rated Nootropic?
Offers essential vitamins and nutrients - Your brain gobbles up an unbelievable amount of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and nutrients for it to properly function for life’s everyday demands. The nootropic you deserve provides these crucial components and more. Ginkgo biloba, Bacopa monnieri, Panax ginseng, and more - the list is endless, but only a few good ones deserve your attention. Click here for the top-rated ingredient list for a smart pill.
Backed by clinical data and experts - The best nootropics have a solid scientific basis through independent, third-party research data on their effectiveness and benefits.
There’s no reason for a credible health care expert not to endorse a well-created supplement for brain enhancement.
Superior manufacturing standards - It’s not just about the ingredients, but also creating the product with the highest standards of production. The best supplements are manufactured in the United States, in a laboratory registered by the FDA. The manufacturer should be GMP certified as well!
Independent reviews (Not just Amazon!) - Reviews can be bought and unverified, so keep an eye out for them. Our reviews, for instance, maintain their independence through a circle of product testers that really get to the bottom of things and assess individual product performance and quality.
What Should You Avoid In A Brain Enhancement Supplement?
Improper dosage - Incorrect levels of each active ingredient - yikes! This leads you to believe that you’re getting optimum value and not the cheaper, over-hyped product that it actually is.
Insufficient return policy and fraud - Reputablecompanies offer 100% money-back guarantee since they are confident enough that their product works. Read the fine print and don’t just trust what you see on the surface.
“Free trial” offers - Does it seem too good to be true? Then it probably is. If you have to enter your credit card details to get to try a product for a month for free, then it’s not free.
Let’s combine your due diligence in research and our honest, in-your-face product reviews that won’t leave you guessing and wanting more information.
The Best Smart Pills On The Market In 2022
We have dutifully compiled the top 5 brain enhancement supplements based on our independent review, product trial, and well-vetted product information. Here’s what we’ve come up with to help you make a smart decision on smart pills today.
Our Winning 5 Brain Boosting Supplements for 2025
#1 LumUltra
Pros
- Incredible results from a potent, fast-acting formula
- Effects are very well-rounded: improvements to memory, focus, mood, energy
- Formula is a fantastic combination of potent Noopept and many other natural nootropics
- Information online is very detailed and simple to understand, love their design and content
- Premium ingredients at a great price (daily cost is cheaper than a cup of coffee!), we suspect this won’t last long, they might be trying to reach a certain market share then raise their price.
- 90-day return policy!
Cons
- They communicate everything via ticketing for quality assurance reason, so if you don’t know how to place order online, then you are out of luck
- Might want to supplement with a multivitamin (only contains B12)
Why It’s TCE-Approved:
Avanse Nutraceuticals’ LumUltra (New and Improved) blows all our editors away with an innovatively new formula utilizing the potent Noopept, in combination with select key natural nootropics. Hands down, LumUltra is the best cognitive enhancer we’ve ever reviewed, and will probably top our list for a very long time.
#2 Brain Pill
Pros
- Good market presence, or product recall
- Availability of scientific studies delving on ingredient and product levels
- Proprietary ingredients for uniquely positioned benefits
- Discounts and savings for bulk orders
Cons
- Relative shortage of customer testimonials
- Lacking imagery around supplement facts and product labeling
Why It’s TCE-Approved:
We are impressed by the speed and precision at which BrainPill responds to brain enhancement needs – and without unwanted effects that could turn off first-time users. The benefits are sustained and evident from the first dose, and this doesn't happen every time with nootropic products.
#3 Alpha Brain
Pros
- Good for focus
- Great customer service team
- Could be great as a workout supplement
Cons
- Effects are a bit limited
- New formula might actually be less potent due to new focus on fitness and health
#4 Prevagen
Pros
- Unique formula and ingredient “Apoaequorin”
- Website is rich in information and resources for further reading
- Clear video on website that explains Prevagen in simplistic way
Cons
- Little to no effects on focus and mood
- Poor value at $59.95 (better nootropics available at that price)
- Studies on Apoaequorin are still quite limited today.
#5 Neuriva
Pros
- Low to no side effect potential
- Offers targeted benefits for five areas of brain function
- GMO and caffeine free
- Vegan-friendly supplement
Cons
- Contains only two major ingredients, which are relatively standard in nootropics
- Lack of ample clinical research presented
- Soy lecithin content is a potential allergen
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2690227/
- https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/cognitive-enhancers-what-they-are-how-they-work-and-what-is-in-the-pipeline/11117394.article?firstPass=false
- https://health.usnews.com/wellness/mind/articles/2018-09-27/what-are-nootropics
- https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/peak-nootropics-llc-aka-advanced-nootropics-565256-02052021
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/fortifying-your-memory-with-supplements
- https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/natural-brain-boosters
- https://www.managedhealthcareconnect.com/article/role-nutrition-prevention-cognitive-decline
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3311304/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423755/
- http://theconversation.com/the-economics-of-the-money-back-guarantee-80876
- https://ispe.org/initiatives/regulatory-resources/gmp
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5545206/
- https://www.npr.org/2018/07/30/629800775/some-amazon-reviews-are-too-good-to-be-believed-theyre-paid-for
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- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects
- https://reviewmeta.com/blog/amazon-flooded-with-millions-of-fake-reviews-in-2019/
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