What You Need to Know

Apoaequorin is a protein found in jellyfish called Aequorea victoria. A lab-made version of apoaequorin is the main ingredient in the over-the-counter dietary supplement Prevagen. The product made claims of improving age-related memory loss and brain function. But in 2024, a federal court ordered makers of Prevagen to stop those claims, saying they were misleading and lacked reliable evidence.

If you’ve thought about trying Prevagen, it’s important to be well-informed. Here’s what you need to know.

Apoaequorin supplement facts

There’s no proof apoaequorin helps with memory or brain function. There’s also no established recommended dose for taking it. Factors to consider include your age and overall health. In one study, people took 10 milligrams daily. In research involving people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), they took 20 milligrams several times a day, up to 200 milligrams. This supplement appears to be safe based on early research and results of people taking it, according to the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. But more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of taking apoaequorin. 

Prevagen is a daily capsule or tablet that comes in three strengths: 10, 20, and 40 milligrams of apoaequorin. Its website says it’s not meant to treat, prevent, or cure any disease. And the company that makes it says it’s intended for healthy people who don’t have dementia.

Apoaequorin is a “calcium-binding protein,” and research links calcium to brain health and memory. An imbalance of calcium in brain nerve cells called neurons might play a role in aging the cells, destroying them, and disrupting signals between them.

But could swallowing calcium-binding protein made from jellyfish somehow benefit your human brain? Research says it doesn’t. The apoaequorin in Prevagen likely gets digested by your stomach before any of it stands a chance of reaching your brain.

Apoaequorin also has been studied as a possible treatment for ALS, which is also called Lou Gehrig’s disease. It’s also being looked at as a possible way to protect the brain during strokes, but that research has been carried out only on rats, not humans. Researchers also want to know whether it can improve sleep, energy, and the overall quality of life for older people.

The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements the way it does drugs in the U.S. The FDA doesn’t sign off on the safety or effectiveness of over-the-counter supplements before they are sold. The makers of the supplements are responsible for making sure their products are safe.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued the makers of Prevagen, saying its claims of improving memory loss or brain function were false advertising. A federal court ruled in favor of the FTC in 2024, saying Prevagen’s claims aren’t backed by scientific evidence and that some of its claims are misleading. Now its makers are prohibited from making such claims, and they’ve been removed from the product’s marketing.

There’s no reliable evidence that apoaequorin boosts your memory. Before the court ruling, Prevagen’s website made claims of improving memory issues linked to aging, pointing to one small study sponsored by the supplement’s maker. Those claims have been removed from the website.

Some researchers said that study showed some people who took Prevagen showed slight improvements on a few memory tests compared with the placebo group. Those people had little or no cognitive impairment, which is trouble with remembering, learning new things, focusing, or making key decisions. Those researchers concluded Prevagen could “improve aspects of cognitive function” in people with normal brain-related aging or very mild cognitive impairment.

But some neuroscientists had a different take on that study and its results. They said it didn’t show people who took Prevagen benefited significantly more than the placebo group. The study participants reported beforehand they had memory problems, but that’s not the same as testing the supplement on people who have an official diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s. 

Experts usually don’t consider the findings of one small study as proof of anything. It typically takes several large studies to confirm early results. 

Don’t take Prevagen or any supplement without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. If you want to try a product containing apoaequorin, ask them if it might affect any health conditions you have or any medications or other supplements you take. Also ask how much is safe to take. 

The company that makes Prevagen hired two doctors to review possible side effects (also called adverse events) reported by people taking the supplement containing apoaequorin. Some people said they had:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Edema (swelling due to fluid buildup in tissues)
• High blood pressure
• Nervousness
• Memory problems

In 2017, the FTC and the state of New York took legal action against Quincy Bioscience, which marketed Prevagen, citing the company’s false claims about how effective the supplement was. The ad campaign for Prevagan said it was “clinically shown” to improve memory and provide cognitive benefits.

In December 2024, the FTC and the New York attorney general won their lawsuit against Prevagen’s makers. A federal court ruled makers of the supplement are prohibited from making claims it improves memory or brain function. 

“Following 7 years of hard-fought litigation, including a jury trial, we are pleased that the Court has ordered Quincy Bioscience to cease making claims about Prevagen that mislead Americans concerned about memory loss. Companies should take note and remember that health claims need to be backed up by reliable scientific evidence,” the FTC said in a statement after the 2024 ruling.

Most health experts advise against taking supplements that claim to improve your memory. A group of scientists, doctors, scholars, and policy experts brought together by the AARP said it couldn’t recommend any ingredient or supplement marketed for brain health after reviewing the available research. The group concluded that a healthy diet was the best way to get brain-boosting nutrients.

The Alzheimer’s Association cautions that claims about memory-enhancing dietary supplements are mostly based on very little science.

If you’re having trouble with your memory, talk to your doctor. They’ll help you figure out what’s going on, and they’ll recommend ways to help you get your memory working as well as possible.

Apoaequorin is a protein found in certain jellyfish. It’s sold over the counter as the supplement Prevagen, whose makers used to claim it improved memory and brain function. But the FTC sued them for making false claims and won that lawsuit in 2024. Now the makers of Prevagen are forbidden by law from making those claims.

What is apoaequorin used for?

Apoaequorin is sold under the brand name Prevagen as “a supplement made for your brain.” But its previous claims of helping your memory or brain function have been halted by a federal court. The court found those claims were unproven and some of them were misleading. 

Who can’t take Prevagen?

The supplement hasn’t been studied extensively in people, so we don’t know much about potential side effects or drug interactions. Check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

What is the No. 1 supplement for memory?

There’s little to no evidence that any supplements boost memory in healthy people. But whether or not you take them, make sure you also have a healthy lifestyle. Supplements aren’t meant to replace healthy memory-promoting habits like regular exercise, healthy diet, enough quality sleep, and social connections. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.