Patients will ask about apoaequorin (Prevagen), as a federal judge ruled it can no longer be marketed for improving memory or cognition. Be prepared to explain this change to patients, along with the evidence behind this supplement.
The recent court ruling, which was seven years in the making, officially puts an end to any marketing claims suggesting apoaequorin supports memory or cognitive function. As of December 12, 2024, the product’s website no longer makes any mention of memory improvement, and it no longer states that apoaequorin is clinically proven to work. It’s now simply marketed as a supplement “for your brain.” This will be a major shift in what consumers have been seeing in commercials, pharmacy signage, and online for almost 20 years. The ruling comes down to the lack of supportive evidence – only one manufacturer-sponsored study shows that taking apoaequorin slightly improves memory in older adults – there isn’t any high-quality research confirming this.
Tell patients that while this ruling may seem like a big change, the actual evidence remains unchanged. There was never strong clinical evidence showing that apoaequorin improves memory or cognition. Also emphasize that this is just one example of how dietary supplements are regulated differently than pharmaceutical drugs. There is NO approval process for dietary supplements. As long as supplements contain dietary ingredients that were either already used in supplements before DSHEA (1994), or established as reasonably safe since then, they can be sold to consumers lawfully. The FDA and FTC can only take action against manufacturers for safety concerns or misleading marketing claims AFTER they are on the market. And as this case shows, that process can take years.
Review our apoaequorin monograph to dive into the evidence.
The information in this brief report is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions. Copyright © 2025 NatMed. Commercial distribution or reproduction prohibited. NatMed is the leading provider of high-quality, evidence-based, clinically-relevant information on natural medicine, dietary supplements, herbs, vitamins, minerals, functional foods, diets, complementary practices, CAM modalities, exercises and medical conditions. Monograph sections include interactions with herbs, drugs, foods and labs, contraindications, depletions, dosing, toxicology, adverse effects, pregnancy and lactation data, synonyms, safety and effectiveness.
