Bacopa
Bacopa is studied for memory and cognitive performance. Effects are typically modest and build over weeks.
Overview
What is Bacopa?
Bacopa monnieri, or water hyssop, is an Ayurvedic herb used to enhance memory, cognitive function, and mood. It interacts with neurotransmitter systems like dopamine and serotonin, promotes neuron growth, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Whilst it has been traditionally valued for reducing stress and anxiety, bacopa is also used for overall brain health and vitality. Despite widespread use, there is limited evidence from high-quality studies.
Dosage
A typical dose is 300 mg per day with a meal, although doses of 600 mg per day have also been used in some studies.
Effect graph
Effect heatmap
SupplementDEX Database
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Database Snapshot
Most bacopa research is concentrated in a handful of conditions.
- Cognitive performance accounts for 19 of 26 studies (73%).
- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder accounts for 2 of 26 studies (8%).
- Alzheimer's disease accounts for 1 of 26 studies (4%).
- Sparse coverage remains for Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Depression.
Safety
Bacopa is likely safe when used orally at doses of up to 600 mg per day for 12 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
Sources26 references
SupplementDEX uses only high-quality sources to determine supplement effectiveness.
SupplementDEX Database · Alzheimer's disease
1 reference1.SupplementDEX Database: Alzheimer's disease — Efficacy of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) and Donepezil in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: A randomized double-blind parallel Phase 2b study2020
A phase 2b RCT comparing 300 mg/day bacopa with donepezil for 12 months in AD/MCI patients found no significant difference in ADAS-Cog decline after slow recruitment and high dropout.
2.SupplementDEX Database: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder — Effects of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08®) in a population of males exhibiting inattention and hyperactivity aged 6 to 14 years: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial2022
A 14-week study including 112 children aged 6-14 years found that bacopa did not improve behavioural outcomes but may improve executive functioning and cognitive flexibility compared to placebo. The dose used was 160 mg per day for children up to 35 kg body weight and 320 mg per day for children above 35 kg body weight.
3.SupplementDEX Database: Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder — An open-label study to elucidate the effects of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in the management of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children2014
An open-label study of 31 children aged 6–12 with ADHD found 225 mg/day standardized bacopa for 6 months reduced restlessness in 93% and attention-deficit symptoms in 85%.
SupplementDEX Database · Depression
1 reference4.SupplementDEX Database: Depression — Bacopa monnieri as augmentation therapy in the treatment of anhedonia, preclinical and clinical evaluation2020
Preclinical and clinical work in 42 anhedonic depression patients found 300 mg bacopa twice daily plus citalopram improved depression, pleasure, and behavioral scores more than citalopram alone over 4 weeks.
SupplementDEX Database · Cognitive performance
19 references5.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Evaluating the effects of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive performance and sleep quality of patients with mild cognitive impairment: A triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial2024
A triple-blind RCT of 62 mild cognitive impairment patients found 160 mg bacopa twice daily for 2 months improved attention and verbal fluency but not overall cognitive score or sleep quality.
6.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Bacopa monnieri supplementation has no effect on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels but beneficially modulates nuclear factor kappa B and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein levels in healthy elderly subjects2023
An open-label study of 35 healthy older adults (ages 60–78) found 3 months of bacopa improved delayed recall and modulated CREB and NF-κB signaling without changing total MoCA or serum BDNF.
7.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Investigating the effects of a multinutrient supplement on cognition, mood and biochemical markers in middle-aged adults with 'optimal' and 'sub-optimal' diets: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial2022
A 12-week RCT of 141 middle-aged adults found a multinutrient formula with bacopa raised B vitamin status but did not improve memory overall, though attention improved in those with optimal baseline diets.
8.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — The Neurocognitive Effects of Bacopa monnieri and Cognitive Training on Markers of Brain Microstructure in Healthy Older Adults2021
A 12-week RCT of 28 adults over 55 found bacopa plus cognitive training slowed reaction time on some tasks and increased neurite dispersion on MRI, conflicting with behavioral gains.
9.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — The effectiveness of Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst. as a nootropic, neuroprotective, or antidepressant supplement: analysis of the available clinical data2021
A systematic review meta-analysis found bacopa showed modest cognitive improvements in healthy adults and memory-loss patients, but no two studies showed significant gains on the same tests.
10.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Acute effects of combined Bacopa, American ginseng and whole coffee fruit on working memory and cerebral haemodynamic response of the prefrontal cortex: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study2019
In 40 healthy adults, a single dose of Bacopa, American ginseng, and coffee fruit improved N-back accuracy and prefrontal cortex activation versus placebo at 45 minutes.
11.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Efficacy of standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri (Bacognize®) on cognitive functions of medical students: a six-week, randomized placebo-controlled trial2016
A 6-week double-blind RCT of 60 medical students found 300 mg/day Bacognize bacopa significantly improved cognitive test performance versus placebo.
12.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract2014
A meta-analysis of 9 bacopa RCTs in 518 subjects found improved cognition on Trail B (−17.9 ms) and choice reaction time (−10.6 ms) after ≥12 weeks of supplementation.
13.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Brahmi for the better? New findings challenging cognition and anti-anxiety effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) in healthy adults2013
A 12-week RCT of 72 healthy adults (ages 35–60) found 450 mg/day bacopa did not improve learning, memory, or attention versus placebo, with only a trend toward lower state anxiety.
14.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of a special extract of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on sustained cognitive performance2013
An acute crossover study of 24 healthy adults found 320 mg bacopa improved performance on early repetitions of a cognitive demand battery without affecting cardiovascular or stress ratings.
15.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Effects of 12-week Bacopa monnieri consumption on attention, cognitive processing, working memory, and functions of both cholinergic and monoaminergic systems in healthy elderly volunteers2012
A 12-week RCT of 60 healthy older adults found 300–600 mg/day bacopa improved working memory and reduced N100/P300 latencies, partly via suppressed plasma AChE activity.
16.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial2010
A 12-week RCT of 98 healthy adults over 55 found 300 mg/day BacoMind improved verbal learning and delayed recall on the AVLT, with gastrointestinal side effects.
17.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial2008
A 12-week RCT of 48 adults aged 65+ found 300 mg/day bacopa improved delayed verbal recall and Stroop performance and reduced anxiety and depression scores versus placebo.
18.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Examining the nootropic effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on human cognitive functioning: 90 day double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial2008
A 90-day double-blind RCT of 107 healthy adults found 300 mg/day KeenMind bacopa improved spatial working memory accuracy and reduced false positives on a rapid visual processing task.
19.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Randomized controlled trial of standardized Bacopa monniera extract in age-associated memory impairment2006
A 12-week RCT in age-associated memory impairment found 125 mg bacopa twice daily improved mental control, logical memory, and paired-associate learning versus placebo.
20.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory2002
A 3-month RCT of 76 adults aged 40–65 found bacopa improved retention of new information without affecting learning rate, attention, or everyday memory function.
21.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects2001
A 12-week RCT found 300 mg/day KeenMind bacopa improved visual information processing speed, learning rate, memory consolidation, and state anxiety versus placebo.
22.SupplementDEX Database: Cognitive performance — The acute effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy normal subjects2001
An acute RCT of 38 healthy adults found a single 300 mg bacopa dose produced no significant cognitive changes 2 hours after dosing, suggesting benefits require chronic use.
23.Efficacy of Bacopa monniera in revitalizing intellectual functions in children. See external sourceExternal source
No source link
24.SupplementDEX Database: Irritable bowel syndrome — Irritable bowel syndrome: therapeutic evaluation of indigenous drugs1989
An RCT of 169 IBS patients found a bacopa-containing Ayurvedic preparation helped 65% versus 33% on placebo over 6 weeks, but was less effective than standard antispasmodic therapy (78%).
SupplementDEX Database · Parkinson's disease
1 reference25.SupplementDEX Database: Parkinson's disease — Bacopa monnieri in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study2023
A double-blind pilot RCT of 20 Parkinson's patients found 450 mg/day bacopa did not improve motor symptoms but showed time-dependent improvements in emotional function on quality-of-life measures.
SupplementDEX Database · Stress
1 reference26.SupplementDEX Database: Stress — An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood2013
A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study investigating the acute effects of two doses (320 mg and 640 mg) of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract (CDRI 08) on stress, mood, and cognitive performance under multitasking conditions. The study found reduced heart rate and subjective stress reactivity, suggesting acute adaptogenic potential.
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