The Alpha Brain nootropic stack is one of the most popular brain supplements for sale in North American right now. It has received a lot of high-profile media coverage and is used and endorsed by several athletes and celebrities like Joe Rogan.
This product also comes with some fairly ambition claims, promising to deliver razor focus, increased mental drive and even the ability to lucid dream. So what is the science behind Onnit Lab’s Alpha Brain stack?
This cognitive enhancer is designed for people who want to reap the benefits of several different nootropic supplements without having to purchase each one individually. It is ideal for anyone who just wants to use one supplement to maximize their cognitive enhancement benefits.
One downside of the Alpha Brain new formula is that it lacks some of the more powerful nootropics from the Racetam or Ampakine family, but you could conceivably use this in addition to Piracetam or Aniracetam for better results. Let’s take a closer look at the Alpha Brian nootropic ingredients and see what the research says.

- Enhances focus and mental drive
- Improves memory and cognitive performance
- Contains Alpha GPC & L-Theanine
Alpha Brain Nootropic Supplements
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Onnit’s Alpha Brain uses a predominantly natural mix of 11 nootropic ingredients that work in a wide variety of ways.
What is great about these compound is that they use such different mechanisms of action that you can expect a greater diversity of cognitive benefits.
This is why Alpha Brain is considered to be a good starting place for beginners to brain supplements and smart drugs who want an overall boost to their brainpower as opposed to specific results.
The nootropics found in every Alpha Brain tablet include: Alpha GPC, Huperzine A, Vinpocetine, AC-11, Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa, Pterostilbene, L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, Oat Straw, and Vitamin B-6.
Let’s take a look at each of these component to see what they add to Alpha Brain’s nootropic stack.
Alpha GPC
This supplement may increase the ability to lucid dream and help your brain form new connections. Alpha GPC is one of the highest quality choline sources available, so it is promising to see it included in the formulation. Other supplements like Focus Factor use Choline Bitartrate which is much less effective at converting into acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is one of two important neurotransmitters in the brain for learning and memory and using Alpha GPC can help you boost levels of this chemical available. Alpha Brain only provides 50 mg of Alpha GPC in a pill which is relatively low however.

- Focus longer, clear brain fog & feel more motivated
- Boost energy, alertnes & memory
- Contains 12 safe and natural nootropic ingredients
Huperzia Serrata
Huperzia Serrata is an herbal source for the Huperzine A alkaloid which is known to boost memory formation and comprehension.
Huperzine basically prevents acetylcholine from being prematurely broken down at your neural synapses.
It was used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory and ancient Chinese remedy, but now it is regarded as a possible Alzheimer’s remedy.
There are some concerns as to whether it is safe to use this compound on an everyday basis, but the research has not been conclusive so far.
A single Alpha Brain capsule provides 20 mg of Huperzia Serrata extract with 0.5% Huperzine giving you 100 mcg of this supplement. This is on the higher end of Huperzine A dosages – especially if you use the recommended serving size of two capsules.
Vinpocetine
The next nootropic ingredient is 2.5 mg of Vinpocetine – a highly regarded natural extract from the Periwinkle plant. This compound was initially used to improve blood flow to the brain among stroke victims.
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that Vinpocetine can increase alertness and energy, but so far conclusive clinical trials are lacking. However, you will find that many nootropic stacks include this ingredient and a number of brain supplement users swear by this herbal compound.
AC-11
AC-11 is a very interesting inclusion in Alpha Brain because it is regarded less as a nootropic than as a general anti-aging formulation. It is known to be effective for DNA repair which can contribute to long-term brain health. It is also a neuroprotectant that has been shown to reduce brain cell damage from UV exposure and other external factors. This is the most prevalent ingredient in Alpha Brain with 175 mg per pill.
Bacopa
This is probably one of the most widely used ingredients by the general population in Alpha Brain. It has become popular among elderly individuals and especially those between 40 to 65 to boost memory levels. There is widespread agreement in the scientific community that Bacopa improves several different memory-related functions, although it is not the strongest nootropic option out there. There are 50 mg of Bacopa extract in each Alpha Brain tablet.
Phosphatidylserine
This phospholipid is very important for ensuring proper balances in the basic functions of your brain cells. The membranes of your neurons are quite intricate biological structures, performing many operations to maintain the excitability of your synapses.
Without this delicate balance, your brain cells would not be able to communicate with each other and you would be incapable of thought or motion. Phosphatidylserine is involved in regulating these functions to allow for the release of acetylcholine, noradrenaline and dopamine.
Pterostilbene
This nootropic compound is included in Alpha Brain to support better brain health in the long-term. It is a powerful antioxidant, able to keep your cells protected from free radicals and other types of toxic stress. This might not be one of the ingredients you notice at first when taking Onnit Lab’s Alpha Brain, but it is part of what makes this supplement such a good all-in-one brain pill.
L-Tyrosine
This is a relatively recent addition to the Alpha Brain nootropic formulation, but one that you will really feel the presence of. L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that stimulates dopamine release. It is implicated in boosting memory, reasoning, focus, energy and even motivation. If you are looking for a dopamine boosting supplement, then the amount of Tyrosine in Alpha Brain might be too small for you which is why Aniracetam or Phenylpiracetam may be more effective.
L-Theanine
Theanine is one of the anxiolytic compounds in Alpha Brain meaning that it can reduce the sensation of stress or anxiety. It is naturally found in Green Tea and may be able to counteract some of the negative side effects of caffeine. It also shows improved mental performance in the area of memory and may be able to enhance concentration levels for average people or those with ADD or ADHD.
Oat Straw
Oat Straw is not known to be a cognitive enhancer per se, but it is effective at reducing stress and improving sleep. It has also been cited as a cholesterol reducing agent that may be able to improve overall vascular health. Ultimately, a healthy body is important for a healthy mind and proper blood flow to the brain so there are some nootropic benefits to this supplement.
Vitamin B-6
If you have never heard of any of the other ingredients in Alpha Brain, chances are you have heard of Vitamin B-6. This brain vitamin helps to ensure proper metabolism in the brain to keep your neurons supplied with enough energy. Including this nutrient in Alpha Brain really rounds out some of the claims that this product is the first true cognitive multivitamin.
Buy Alpha Brain
Alpha Brain is starting to become more and more available from traditional supplement and nutrition retailers, but for now most people will have the best luck looking for Alpha Brain for sale online.
You can purchase it from websites like Amazon or eBay, but we recommend buying directly from Onnit’s website. That way you can be assured of receiving the 30 day money back guarantee should you decide that this supplement is not right for you.
Onnit Labs also offers free shipping when you purchase through their site and they occasionally send out coupon codes to past customers.
Right now, you can buy a 30 capsule bottle of Alpha Brain for $34.95 or up it to a 90 pill jar for $79.95. Just remember that if you want to enhance the effects of Alpha Brain, it is a good idea to stack it with a stronger Nootropic like a Racetam. Piracetam and Aniracetam are known to work very well with Alpha Brain and give you an even bigger boost to your fluid intelligence.
Article last updated on: February 19th, 2018 by Nootriment