Compared to your average person, I take an inordinate number of supplements: around two dozen pills a day. I’m not trying to extend my longevity. My main goal is the cognitive enhancement of my brain: to give my most valuable organ an abundance of the components that it needs to manufacture all the neurotransmitters that it needs to work its best. My stack of nootropics is quite modest compared to that of Ray Kurzweil who takes over 100 pills a day.

Many of these supplements may have no benefit, but some of them might be beneficial. I can only hope that none of them are harmful.  This regimen has been something I have used and refined since 2012. While I’ve always been interested in exploring and expanding my cognition and consciousness, the book: “The Edge Effect” was the material that most directly influenced me to begin this habit. Watching my Grandfather die a horrible death of Alzheimer’s disease was another major motivating factor.

I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. I’ll give a brief synopsis of why I’m motivated to take each supplement, but I won’t do a full analysis of the potential benefits and risks. I’m just sharing my routine.

Morning & Night

AREDS2 to stave off elevated macular degeneration risks discovered by 23&Me DNA testing.
Fish oil 2G heart & brain

Mornings

Caffeine stimulant / pre-workout (coffee / tea alternating days).
Fish oil 2G for Omega-3’s vast array of benefits.
Turmeric anti-inflammatory & antioxidant.
L-tyrosine for cell signaling.
Alpha Lipoic Acid antioxidant cell protection.
b complex memory and cognition. (includes Vitamin C)
Acetyl L-Carnitine for memory & male hormonal management.
Alpha GPC (GlyceroPhosphoCholine) for cognition, memory & learning.
Bacopa Monniera for cerebral blood flow.

Nights

5HTP for serotonin neurotransmitter and trippy dreams.
GABA suppressive and depressive.
Men’s Multivitamin in case my diet was lacking.
Phosphatidylserine to prevent cognitive decline.
Melatonin to support sleep. 5mg reduced from 10mg. (note: having the screens and lighting reduce blue light around bedtime is also critical to encouraging natural development).
Huperzine A for acetylcholine neurotransmitter.

No Longer Taking

Vinpocetine for brain blood flow and Alzheimer’s prevention.  (no longer available)
St. Johns Wort neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor.  (risks)
Maca for stamina and focus. (not necessary)
Ginkgo Biloba for neural blood flow, antioxidant, memory and cognition. (risks)
Stinging Nettle Root for male health. (not necessary)
DL-Phenylalanine amino acid building block for brain function. (just having lots of protein )

I also accompany this with plenty of hydration, and regular physicals and bloodwork to make sure my kidneys & liver are able to process all of this.

I inventory 1-2 extra bottles of each. I remind myself to fill up two weeks of pill organizers using a scheduled task in the Todoist App.

I have no certainty that any of this benefits me. I am unable to prove any efficacy of this regimen using a random double-blind controlled study. Subjectively, I don’t feel as sharp when I stop taking them, but that could just be an expression of my desire for the investment I put into this regimen to be beneficial: a manifestation of a placebo effect.

No supplement will compensate for a poor diet, lack of exercise or poor sleep hygiene, but there is a chance that they might give my brain some extra tools to have an advantage in life.

Google sheet with all supplements