This is a long term test of the Dynamic Brain supplement made by Stonehenge Health. Like many of these, Stonehenge are known for their health focused supplements that also make big promises. They claim that Dynamic Brain will boost your brain power and memory, so I was very eager to see what happened if I took this for 1 year. In my review I will take a look at what’s inside Dynamic Brain from it’s blend of vitamins to it’s nootropic ingredients. I will also discuss how each one has performed over the past year. I won’t just rely on what the label says, I will share my real life experiences and observations from long term use. It’s obviously important to acknowledge that there are still some questions around Dynamic Brain and Stonehenge Health. I’ll address these head-on to give you the full picture as well as my extended experience. I also got a few colleagues to take the test as well, so you have a fuller view, not just my own.
More information on Dynamic Brain:
Basically, this is a product that’s long on ingredients but one that I would raise serious doubts about it’s real effectiveness. It contains a blend of ingredients which only the manufacturer knows about. Apparently it contains over 40 different nootropic compounds including things such as choline donors, adaptogens, amino acids and a variety of neuro-minerals and vitamins. It also includes key ingredients such as Choline, Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri, and Huperzine A. I’m more familiar with these and they are all recognised in nootropic circles for their cognitive benefits. However, I always find that the devil is in the details….or more specifically in the dosage level [1] and this is where the questions start with this product! The effectiveness of a nootropic compound heavily relies on it’s dosage. With dynamic brain the 617mg blend does not disclose its individual ingredient amounts, making dose comparisons difficult [2].
I found that the brand’s claims of doing things like enhancing memory, focus, alertness, learning, mood and even assisting with verbal recall and analytical thinking in an ageing brain….are indeed all very lofty! My view is both lofty and shaky though especially given dosage levels are not communicated as per my points above.
My review will dissect all of these aspects with a particularly critical lens. I am going to explore whether this densely packed supplement can actually deliver on it’s claims, or is it really a case of quantity over quality!! Well, that’s my hypothesis but more than happy to be proven wrong! In the research that I have done over the years, the effectiveness of a nootropic isn’t just about what’s in it, it’s the dosage. So time for me to give a really realistic assessment of Dynamic Brain, cutting through the marketing and going straight to the heart of it’s potential effectiveness.
How I feel about the claims Dynamic Brain makes:
Contains 40 different Nootropic Compounds, Choline Donors, Adaptogens, Amino Acids plus Neuro-minerals and Vitamins. This is quite a long list and a broad spectrum of ingredients. I find that the challenge really lies in the way in which they are all blended together. 617mg for over 40 compounds, so it’s really highly questionable whether each ingredient is present in a therapeutically effective dose. My research suggests that the effectiveness of nootropics are really dependent on the dosage [3]. As an example, effective doses of Bacopa Monnieri, a key ingredient, are typically around 300mg [4], so this casts massive doubts on how sufficient the other ingredients are within this blend.
Includes Choline, Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri and Huperzine A. I have found that each of these have been studied for nootropic benefits. Choline is essential for good brain function but the format and dose are critical [5]. Phosphatidylserine has shown promise in improving cognitive functions, especially in aging populations [6]. Bacopa Monnieri is known for enhancing memory and cognitive processing [6]. Huperzine A is touted for its impact on memory and neuroprotection [7]. However, without knowing the specific dosages present in Dynamic Brain, I can’t vouch for the product’s effectiveness and it just remains purely speculative.
It helps to improve memory, focus, alertness, learning and mood. I find that this is quite a broad spectrum of claims. Whilst some ingredients in the product have shown potential in this area, it comes back to me feeling like this is all very hard to fathom when there is no dosage information. One example for you, there is evidence that Bacopa and Huperzine A have some support for memory enhancement [4,7], but their impact on mood and alertness is less clear. However, ingredients like Green Tea extract can influence alertness due to caffeine content [8], but I cannot say how much Dynamic Brain includes in it’s blend.
Supports verbal recall, analytical thinking and a healthy brain during ageing. I’ve found that these cognitive items are really less often the focus of nootropic research. White Phosphatidylserine does show some promise in age-related cognitive decline [6], the broad claim of supporting verbal recall and analytical thinking lacks specific evidence when tied to the ingredients in Dynamic Brain, let alone the dosage levels.
Overall, my view is that Dynamic Brain’s broad range of ingredients suggested real potential for cognitive enhancement. However, the use of a blend without any information on dosages really hampered my ability to understand and judge how well it could substantiate these claims more scientifically. The 617mg blend does not disclose the individual amounts, so I cannot establish which of them match the forms and quantities used in research. Everything you read confirms that the effectiveness of nootropics is highly dependent on appropriate dosages [3], and without this information the claims made by Dynamic Brain remain unsubstantiated.
So did it work for me after 12 months of consuming this?
Here I will go through my assessment of taking the product for 1 year in real life with it’s extensive list of 40 nootropic ingredients, choline donors, adaptogens, amino acids, neuro-minerals and vitamins. My expectations were both high and cautious at the same time. The presence of recognised ingredients like Choline, Phosphatidylserine, Bacopa Monnieri, and Huperzine A, known for their cognitive-enhancing properties, kind of hinted at an experience that was going to be beneficial to me. However, my experience was extremely underwhelming compared to what the product was claiming.
Despite a very diverse set of ingredients, the impact I felt was really muted:
The product's claim of containing a wide array of nootropics led me to anticipate a noticeable boost in cognitive function over time. However, the real-world impact I felt continued to be muted, even after a full year of use. To be honest, this was not entirely surprising to me, given the limitations posed by the proprietary blend's dosage. With 617mg to be shared among the blend’s ingredients, the individual quantities could not be established from the blend total [9]. A real disappointment but one that I really saw coming if I’m honest.
Improvements in memory and focus:
Dynamic Brain pledges improvements in memory and focus. Over the extended period, while I experienced some very slight improvements in alertness (possibly attributable to the Green Tea Extract [10]), the improvements in memory and focus were not pronounced for me at all. This aligns with research suggesting that effective nootropic benefits require adequate dosages maintained over time [11], which seems to be a shortfall in this supplement. Again, a disappointment for me.
Improvements in learning and mood enhancement:
My expectations included enhanced learning capabilities and mood improvements, especially with prolonged use for a year. However, the experience remained lacklustre. The potential mood-regulating effects of ingredients like Bacopa Monnieri [12] were not really felt by me, again possibly due to the low dosage in the blend, even over the long term after several months of me taking it. I just didn’t feel it.
Improvements in verbal recall and analytical thinking:
The brand’s promise of supporting verbal recall and analytical thinking is a tall order. My long term test did not yield any noticeable improvements in these specific cognitive domains. This was somewhat expected, as targeted cognitive enhancements generally require not only specific ingredients but also their presence in effective dosages sustained over time [13].
Keeps a brain healthy during ageing:
With a full year of usage, I had hoped to assess the claim of supporting a healthy brain during ageing. I have found that ingredients like Phosphatidylserine have shown potential in this aspect [14], but again, dosage is key. Unfortunately, I did not observe any discernible benefits in this area.
My Conclusion
My experience with Dynamic Brain over 12 months was a reminder that a long list of ingredients does not necessarily translate into effectiveness. The promises of enhanced memory, focus, alertness, and mood improvements were not fully realized, leading to a somewhat disappointing experience compared to other top-tier brain and memory supplements we've tested.
The challenge with proprietary blends, as in the case of Dynamic Brain, is that without transparency in dosages, it's difficult to gauge the effectiveness of the formula. I really believe this. Research really backs this up - dosage and ingredient transparency are crucial [15]. While Dynamic Brain contains many promising ingredients on paper, the lack of significant real-world results over an extended period suggests that the formula may not deliver the benefits it advertises. It certainly did not for me. For those seeking noticeable cognitive enhancements, exploring supplements with disclosed ingredient amounts and clinically effective dosages is likely to yield better results. More on this later in this review.
Pros and cons
Potential benefits
Ingredients list is long and quite diverse: over 40 different compounds, so it does offer a wide range of nootropics, adaptogens and vitamins.
Support for general brain health: I suppose that the variety of vitamins and minerals in their formula could contribute to overall brain health.
Disadvantages:
Ingredient dosages are unclear: the blend does not disclose the individual amounts of the key nootropics.
They are not transparent: the manufacturer does not disclose the amounts of each ingredient.
Claims are over-stated: They claim a long list of cognitive benefits so these must be exaggerated given the dosage concerns.
There could be some side effects: whilst I did not suffer with any big side effects, with so many ingredients in one formulation, there could be risks.
Limited effects: all of which means that I did not feel significant cognitive benefits.
I have read through all of the scientific evidence on the subject and feel confident to say that this research clearly suggests to me that Dynamic Brain is unlikely to be effective and its claims are not supportable. For me, this tallies with my own direct experience when using the product and also some other users which tried it alongside me. Whilst it contains ingredients that have been scientifically studied for their cognitive benefits, I simply cannot comprehend that it's possible for many of the ingredients to be present in effective amounts. My scientific assessment is that Dynamic Brain's formulation can't deliver its promised benefits.
Side effects and other concerns
Here I just go into my experience again with Dynamic Brain and also outline the potential side effects that could occur. This is based on my appraisal of the ingredients in the product, and I’ve highlighted my concerns here:
Unclear dosages limit confidence in assessing the formula: This is one of my primary issues - the proprietary blend totals 617mg but does not disclose the individual ingredient amounts. I cannot attribute the muted cognitive effects I observed to particular doses.
Their lack of transparency: The undisclosed amounts of each ingredient in the proprietary blend make it difficult for me to assess both the potential efficacy and safety profile of the supplement [27].
The extremely limited cognitive enhancement that I felt: I experienced only minor improvements in alertness and focus, potentially due to low doses of ingredients like Green Tea Extract, which may not have been present in effective amounts for substantial cognitive enhancement [29].
Dynamic Brain could generate these sorts of side effects (based on my research and understanding):
Gastrointestinal Issues: Ingredients like Bacopa Monnieri, at higher doses, have been associated with gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhoea [30].
Headaches and Dizziness: Components like Huperzine A can cause headaches and dizziness, especially if not dosed appropriately [31].
Insomnia: The caffeine content in Green Tea Extract might contribute to sleep disturbances or insomnia in sensitive individuals [32].
Overstimulation: The combination of multiple stimulatory compounds, even in small amounts, might lead to feelings of jitteriness or anxiety [33].
Interactions with Medications: Certain ingredients could interact with medications. For example, Huperzine A can interact with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and other medications [34].
Allergic Reactions: With a broad spectrum of ingredients, there's an increased risk of allergic reactions, particularly from botanical extracts [35].
Long-Term Safety Uncertain: Due to the complex blend of ingredients and lack of long-term studies, the long-term safety of taking Dynamic Brain is uncertain [36].
Fluctuating Efficacy: Some users might experience fluctuating efficacy due to the varying bioavailability and absorption rates of the numerous ingredients [37].
Dynamic Brain contains a wide range of nootropic ingredients, the actual experience and potential side effects are influenced significantly by the formulation's dosage limitations and lack of transparency. The minor cognitive benefits I observed do not align with the supplement's extensive claims, and the potential for side effects, though dependent on individual sensitivity and response, cannot be overlooked.
My overall summary and recommendation for you:
Dynamic Brain gave me very underwhelming results: it only generated minimal improvements in focus and alertness for me, falling short of the significant cognitive enhancements it promises.
The dosage concerns is a massive issue for me : The supplement's proprietary blend, at 617mg, lacks sufficient dosages of key nootropics, raising questions about its overall effectiveness.
It also does not feature clinically studied ingredients: I have found that there are several clinically studied nootropic ingredients are either absent or not individually quantified in Dynamic Brain's formula.
They are not being transparent: I found that the lack of specific dosage information for each ingredient in the proprietary blend hinders the ability to assess the product's true efficacy.
I do have a recommended alternative: Have you looked at ThinkEase? Its comprehensive formulation and transparent ingredient profile make it easier to compare the individual amounts with scientific research.
My overall verdict for you:
After what I feel is a very comprehensive assessment of Dynamic Brain, my verdict is pretty clear. It started off a bit mixed if I’m honest as the promise of a wide array of over 40 nootropic ingredients and all of the other great things it has in it gave me confidence. But this was overshadowed by a weak experience, and the consequence of a lack of transparency, massive concerns on dosage levels and non alignment with the scientific literature on the subject.
Dosage and transparency concerns: My primary issue with Dynamic Brain is its proprietary blend, which totals 617mg. Without individual amounts, I cannot compare each ingredient directly with the research.
It gave me very very limited cognitive enhancements: My experience with Dynamic Brain reflected these limitations. I observed only minimal improvements in areas such as alertness and focus, which fell short of the product's highly ambitious claims.
There is a clear difference in labelling compared to my recommended alternative: ThinkEase’s formula includes ingredients like Bacopa Monnieri (300mg), Citicoline (250mg), L-theanine (200mg), and N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (275mg). Their individual amounts are all disclosed.
ThinkEase also has what I would call a more transparent formulation: Unlike Dynamic Brain’s proprietary blend, ThinkEase provides individual amounts. Ingredients like Bacopa Monnieri and Citicoline are listed separately, allowing the formula to be compared with clinical studies.
ThinkEase makes the ingredient amounts easier to assess: Its transparent ingredient list is useful when discussing suitability with a healthcare professional. It does not by itself demonstrate fewer side effects.
If I was to give a recommendation to you: based on my assessment in this sector, I would recommend ThinkEase over Dynamic Brain for its individually disclosed ingredients. This offers a clearer basis for assessing the formula and deciding whether it suits your needs.