Pycnogenol for cognitive health

Published: 28-Oct-2014

A lifetime of cognitive health and mental performance are motivating factors for many people seeking wellness and nutrition resources

Research shows that there are a variety of foods, exercises and supplements that may help to sharpen the memory, support decision making and improve mood. A number of clinical studies have found certain natural products and ingredients — 'brain food' — to be effective in helping to achieve these cognitive health benefits. As interest in the category grows, consumers are conducting more due diligence to discover which natural ingredients are most effective, backed by scientific research and positioned to provide long-term benefits.

Horphag Research, the exclusive worldwide supplier of Pycnogenol, a natural plant extract originating from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, has continued to invest in cognitive health research for its flagship ingredient. Pycnogenol is different from other botanicals and extracts because the bark that the extract comes from is not subject to seasonal variations. This seasonal consistency, paired with a patented extraction process, ensures the highest quality standards. Further, the extract is not only unique in its make-up but also in its vast scientific portfolio, which includes more than 340 published studies and review articles.

Multiple studies conducted on Pycnogenol have shown the extract to be effective in offering a wide range of cognitive health benefits throughout life. More than 40 years of research have been dedicated to Pycnogenol, establishing its safety, efficacy and quality, which is why Horphag has continued to further research cognitive health for a range of ages and life stages. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Pycnogenol in increasing circulation and reducing oxidative stress, which has led to improved memory, attention and decision making in previous studies.

Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Pycnogenol in increasing circulation and reducing oxidative stress

Younger consumers

Younger consumers — even college and graduate students — often seek natural supplements to help them focus and perform during key education stages. In a study on college-aged students, Pycnogenol was found to decrease test anxiety by 17% and improve mental performance. Researchers again connect these findings to the extract’s antioxidant potency and blood circulation improvement. According to the American Test Anxieties Association, about 16–20% of students suffer from high test anxiety, making this a prevalent scholastic impairment in US schools.

Several studies on Pycnogenol have found the natural plant extract to benefit young children with ADHD by stimulating the production of nitric oxide, which lowers adrenaline and dopamine levels and helps to balance out the stress hormones. This process results in a decrease of ADHD, providing a natural solution to the approximately 6 million children aged 3–17 years old who have been diagnosed with the disorder.

Seniors

In a study on patients aged 60–85, Pycnogenol was shown to improve both numerical working memory as well as spatial working memory using a computerised testing system. This research suggests that the antioxidant activity of Pycnogenol played a major role in these results; blood results showed a significant decrease in F2-isoprostanes in blood among those taking the antioxidant. Currently, a new study is examining Pycnogenol’s cognitive function and mental performance on healthy professionals between the ages of 35 and 55.

By investing in specific research that covers a wide age range of cognitive health subjects, Pycnogenol has gained a significant knowledge base showing measurable cognitive health benefits for consumers in a range of life stages. Supplements, natural ingredients and proper nutrition serve as building blocks to achieve not just overall health, but mental performance too. As more consumers seek a path to greater cognitive health, research showing clear benefits across a variety of life stages will serve to enlighten them on how to best make their own personal investments.

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