Studying can be exceptionally tough and hard. But no matter your IQ, mental capabilities, or motivation, there are ways to make studying more efficient and easier. And nootropics can help. Let’s find out the best nootropics for studying.
Supplements Evaluated
Since 2015
Ranking Factors
Nootropics And Studying
Nootropics are cognitive enhancers that can boost your cognitive performance, such as focus, attention, motivation, speed of learning, and overall productivity. [1] They can make studying easier, more fun, and may even help you get better results.
Nootropics are not magical pills nor smart drugs (and definitely not a prescription drug), but many people (including our CEO) reported that they played a major role in helping them succeed during studies. For example, our CEO almost failed his bachelor’s studies but got awarded the best student of the year at one of the world’s top 60 universities during his master’s.
Of course, he was taking nootropics during his master’s studies.
Now, many students wonder how exactly can nootropics help them with studying. Let us quickly explain.
First and foremost, nootropics can positively influence different aspects of cognitive performance. [2] This means that they can help with:
- Focus and attention
- Short and long-term memory
- Motivation and mood
- Speed of thinking
- Creativity
- Productivity
If you smartly combine the most effective nootropics, you will get all the mentioned benefits without any side effects whatsoever. But that’s not all …
Nootropics can also help you relax and even improve the quality of your sleep. If you are often nervous or anxious (especially before or during your exam period), nootropics may help you during this period.
As you can see, nootropics provide a wide range of different benefits. They can help you outperform others while staying relaxed and healthy.
Does this sound too good to be true? Well, it isn’t.
But picking the right nootropics can take quite some time, and they can also be quite expensive.
Let us now share with you the best nootropic stacks for studying and individual nootropic compounds.
Best Nootropic Supplement For Studying
So, which is the best nootropic supplement for studying?
#1 Qualia Focus
With 24 nootropic compounds, Qualia Focus is the most advanced supplement on our list. It’s especially great for short-term performance.
Neurohacker Collective developed Qualia Focus, a very popular brain supplement that is also popular among students.
It has a very complex formula that can improve your brain health.
PROS:
- 24 ingredients
- Great short-term effects
- High-quality ingredients
CONS:
- Not optimal user experience
#2 Mind Lab Pro
Mind Lab Pro is one of the most popular nootropic supplements on the market. It contains several effective nootropics, which makes it great for studying.
Mind Lab Pro is a very popular supplement among students because it provides amazing long-term effects.
Compared to our winner, it falls slightly short in providing strong short-term effects (such as an energy boost, lots of focus, and improved mood), so it needs to be combined with caffeine or other compounds for that.
That’s why it is in 2nd place.
PROS:
- 13 scientifically researched ingredients
- Great long-term effects
- Very popular
CONS:
- Weak short-term effects
- Needs to be combined with caffeine
#3 Alpha BRAIN
Alpha BRAIN is one of the most popular supplements among students. It can boost your focus, memory, and attention. That’s why it is great for studying.
Alpha BRAIN was designed especially for people who want to improve their memory and focus.
Sadly, it lacks caffeine, so you need to add it to the stack to get an even stronger boost.
PROS:
- It improves focus, attention, and energy
- The most popular stack on the market
- Decent long-term benefits
CONS:
- It may need to be cycled
- Needs to be combined with caffeine
Best Nootropics For Studying
So, which are the most effective single nootropics for studying? Here is our top list.
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri (Brahmi) is an adaptogen herb that has been used for centuries in the traditional Indian (Ayurveda) medicine. Even though we know that it was first mentioned in the 6th century, modern medicine discovered this potent herb much later.
Bacopa Monnieri can improve memory, focus, attention, it can help you relax, and it can help with anxiety. A lot of research confirms many anecdotal benefits of Brahmi.
It is one of the nootropics you definitely want to have in your nootropic stack.
Citicoline
Citicoline is another nootropic that you want to see in a nootropic stack for studying. Even though the name sounds very unnatural, it is an entirely natural compound that your body produces.
Why would you need to supplement it then? Because you might not get it enough from food. Also, if you need additional brainpower (as most students do nowadays), supplementing citicoline can be very beneficial.
This nootropic can boost your memory, it can help with circulation, it can protect your brain from harmful agents (a great long-term benefit), and it can improve your mood. Some supplements contains Alpha GPC or CDP-Choline, but we prefer Citicoline.
L-theanine
We can imagine that most of you also heard of L-Theanine – the famous amino acid hidden in green tea that can help you relax. But did you know what happens if you combine it with caffeine?
While caffeine gives you a great energy kick, L-Theanine ensures maximum focus and attention. Also, caffeine can leave quite bad side effects (such as nervousness and anxiety), which never show up if you take it together with L-Theanine.
Drinking coffee and green tea at the same time sounds ridiculous (and it is, trust us). That’s why you can get both substances in capsules, which makes it easier to consume, and it is cheaper.
And if you combine them with other nootropics, you can achieve even better results.
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea is another adaptogen herb that you can easily combine with other nootropics from our list. Due to the similar effects as other adaptogenic herbs, it makes your nootropic stack even stronger.
Besides, Rhodiola can help with fatigue and also your athletic performance. That’s why we recommended adding it to your stack.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane mushroom is a nootropic that doesn’t necessarily provide a lot of benefits in the short-term but can be very beneficial for long-term use. Since we expect you will spend at least a couple of years studying, then we would suggest adding Lion’s Mane to your stack.
This medicinal mushroom has anti-depressant properties, it fights inflammation, and it can help with neurodegeneration. So there are a lot of reasons why you want to see this nootropic in your supplement.
Verdict
Based on our studies and experience, natural nootropics may provide lots of benefits for students. By smartly combining them into a nootropic stack, you can get the best effects out of many compounds.
That’s why we recommend taking Qualia Focus, currently our top-rated nootropic supplement for students.
Dr. Alf Wagner
Research Group Psychophysiology
R & D Neurology
Dear Greg,
we would be pleased to hear about Your estimation of a medicament which has been used since the 80ies for the treatment of cholestasis but surprisingly started a new career for very different therapeutic fields: TUDCA (or Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid).
It’s being investigated in the meantime for use in Amyloidosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis & further neurodegenerative diseases and moreover retinal disorders.
As for retinal disorders it’s not clear yet, whether the therapeutical effects refer only to retinal structures & retinal metabolism (positive effects are proved, e.g., for retina pigmentosa): or potentially also to macula membranes (epiretinal gliosis & macular pucker).
Have You heard anything about it?
It seems to be a really interesting stuff. Our research group is interested specifically in the potental use for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and (still more) retinal disorders – especially macula pucker & diseases of epiretinal membranes.
Ok, that’s a very special interest. But the TUDCA might also turn out as drug for the treatment of degeneration processes of the brain, maybe even as a new nootropic preparate.
Thanks a lot in advance for Your comment
and with best regards
Dr. Alf Wagner
Hi Alf, thanks for your comment. Honestly, I haven’t heard about TUDCA before, but I’ll research it right away – is sounds interesting, no doubt about that!