Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is a 7.0–7.5/10 fit for cognition focus, memory, stress resilience, especially for readers who can match the protocol to cortisol pattern, cognitive baseline, training stress, and soy or sunflower source. The best evidence anchors are Duan et al. 2025, which 190 randomized MCI patients; positive cognitive findings from a multi-ingredient formula, so PS-specific attribution is not separable, and Friling et al. 2025, which 209 randomized healthy children; no total-cohort primary or secondary outcome differences; subgroup signal for lower baseline cognitive performance. Phosphatidylserine is a targeted phospholipid supplement with its best evidence in older adults with memory complaints and stress-linked cortisol regulation.

✅ Best for: Adults 55+ with age-associated memory complaints who want a low-risk 300 mg/day trial and understand that the strongest evidence comes from older BC-PS trials, not necessarily the sunflower or soy PS bottle on today's shelf. Chronically stressed adults with high cortisol tone who want an HPA-axis support tool. Athletes in heavy blocks testing 600 mg/day for exercise-cortisol modulation per Starks 2008. Children with ADHD-like inattention only as an adjunct under clinician oversight, especially when omega-3 status is addressed.

❌ Avoid if: You are a young healthy adult without memory decline, high stress reactivity, ADHD-like inattention, or heavy training load. The expected cognitive upside is small and other interventions usually win. Avoid soy-derived PS if you have soy allergy; use sunflower PS instead. Avoid unsupervised pediatric use, pregnancy use, and anticoagulant or antiplatelet co-use without clinician input. Avoid PS as a dementia treatment substitute. FDA's claim is qualified and narrow, EFSA rejected a soy-PS cognition claim, and Alzheimer's Association experts do not currently recommend PS for Alzheimer's disease.