Citicoline Review

Multi-Tasking Mental Supercharger for Focus, Energy, and Memory

If you’ve ever wondered why chickens are so smart, this review should help clarify things.

Okay, perhaps chickens aren’t that smart (or smart at all), but they should be. After all, chicken eggs and even the chickens themselves are major suppliers of choline, which is a major component of brain health and cognition.

And it’s partly thanks to choline that citicoline, a drug initially developed for stroke in Japan, is one of the best (if not the best) nootropics for both brain health and cognition.

In this day and age of coffee and amphetamines, typically you have to choose between brain health or cognition, with the latter coming at the cost of the former. But with citicoline you’re getting both.

Some users might be put off by citicoline’s “drug” status, but I’m here to tell you: Don’t be a chicken!

Citicoline is not only side effect free, but it’s very, very good for you.

How Citicoline Is Supposed to Work

Many nootropics I’m willing to classify as “multi-tasking,” but citicoline (or CDP choline) more than earns this moniker. Yet, before I dive into the multiple tasks performed by this multi-tasker, let’s start with its simplest definition:

Citicoline is a choline donor.

As such, citicoline primarily works by providing raw material for the synthesis of two choline-based biological compounds:

• Phosphatidylcholine (PC) – Remember this from biology class? PC is one of the phospholipid “building blocks” for neurons and cell membranes, used in the creation, rejuvenation, and stabilization of brain cell membranes.
• Acetylcholine (ACh) – One of the key figures in the body’s cholinergic system, ACh facilitates the neuron-to-neuron signals used in learning, memory, and recall. Initially, nootropic drugs (i.e. Racetams) were prized for their involvement in cholinergic pathways.

With age both PC and ACh decline, in effect dulling cognition, memory, and the learning capacity. Because of this, citicoline only increases in value over time, which is exciting considering how valuable citicoline is even at a younger age.

How valuable?

Let’s check out those multiple tasks:

Provides raw material for brain cell membranes

Upon digestion, citicoline metabolizes into two compounds:

• Choline – the precursor to phospholipid building blocks and acetylcholine.
• Cytidine – the precursor to Uridine, a nucleotide base in DNA, and another valuable nootropic on its own.

As I already explained, choline plays an important role in brain health and function, to the point that the term “choline donors” (e.g. citicoline, Alpha-GPC, phosphatidylcholine) signifies a specific genre of nootropics. But aside from providing choline, citicoline gains an edge over other choline donors by also increasing Uridine levels (via cytidine), which optimizes synapse strength between neurons, as I’ll further explain a couple points below.

Signals for synthesis of neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine being the main neurotransmitter affected by citicoline supplementation, leading to increased synthesis of ACh, as well as increased release of the neurotransmitter. Additionally, citicoline may play a role in the dopaminergic bio-pathway (i.e. Dopamine) without altering dopamine levels. Rather, the nootropic seems to increase the numbers of dopamine transporters, possibly stimulating the amount of dopamine released from an active neuron.

Optimizes synapse strength for enhanced neural connectivity

One of Uridine‘s most valuable nootropic properties is its promotion of new synaptic centers in neurons. Quick reminder: Synapses send and receive signals via neurotransmitters to-and-from adjacent neurons, in effect establishing neural connectivity. Uridine’s abilities to sustain synapse strength and promote synaptogenesis may play a major role in boosting cognition and alleviating neurodegenerative conditions, particularly as they relate to aging.

Increases phosphocreatine and ATP energy

Over time, phosphocreatine and ATP levels decrease in the brain, which is smart-guy code for energy levels go down. Therefore, citicoline’s benefit on phosphocreatine and ATP numbers is a major plus for cognition and brain health, considering that the brain is a greedy energy-guzzler that consumes upwards of 20% of the body’s energy reserves. Yowza.

For the older ladies and gents, this is key for maintaining the three points mentioned before this one seeing as brain cell membranes, neurotransmitters, and synapse strength all require energy to maintain. With that in mind, citicoline’s “tasks” seem to synergize and lift each other up, powering the brain to operate at peak levels across-the-board.

Read my Best Energy Supplements to Buy in 2020 list here.

Citicoline Review: Benefits

Combined, citicoline’s brain bio-actions seem to nourish and optimize neurons, promoting the following trifecta of mental performance benefits:

• Focus
• Attention
• Mental Energy

As such, citicoline is a valuable nootropic for professionals and academics, as well as older adults experiencing cognitive decline. Citicoline promotes and restores cognition and memory, making it an effective nootropic for both Now and Later.

Researchers Have Suggested Citicoline Might:

Boost brain energy by 14% and neural membrane repair by 35%.

In this limited study, 16 healthy men and women were administered either 500 mg or 2000 mg Cognizin® citicoline daily for 6 weeks, followed by an evaluation of before-and-after changes to brain structure and function. The results revealed a 14% increase in ATP brain energy and 35% increase in brain cell membrane repair, rejuvenation, replacement, etc. In conclusion, the researchers stated that Citicoline may “help to mitigate cognitive declines associated with aging by increasing energy reserves and utilization.”

Enhance neuron synthesis and repair

This study only administered a dosage of 500 mg citicoline for 6 weeks daily, subsequently continuing with either more citicoline or placebo for another 6 weeks. One of the measures of effect was changes in phosphodiesters, which are produced during brain repair. By the end of the first 6 weeks, a 7.3% increase in phosphodiesters was observed. By the end of the second 6 weeks, this number was maintained. Even more notable, with the rise of phosphodiesters, the subjects’ verbal learning performance also improved.

Sharpen attention and mental performance in middle-aged women.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, three-arm study coming in hot: This time focusing on a sample of 60 women aged between 40 and 60. During the span of 28 days, the subjects were administered daily doses of 250 mg citicoline, 500 mg citicoline, or placebo, then were given cognitive performance tests emphasizing attention. At the end of the study, the researchers found that both citicoline groups were associated with better test scores–although, the 500 mg citicoline group produced the highest scores.

Support improved memory in elderly populations

Old age and brain farts. This study aimed to see whether citicoline can help with this phenomenon. The groups were divided into administrations of 500 mg citicoline, 1000 mg citicoline, placebo, or citicoline combined with nimodipine (reduces high cerebral blood pressure) daily for 4 weeks, all of which were tested for cognitive performance by the study’s end. And the results: Researchers found that, when compared to placebo, citicoline improved memory recall, word recall, immediate recall, and delayed recall. This anti-brain fart benefits of citicoline were linked by the researchers to the nootropic’s neuro-regenerative and brain circulatory benefits.

Potentially help with brain injuries

Citicoline has been deemed safe and effective for brain health, but what of its therapeutic potential on brain injuries (e.g. concussion)? For the most part, the jury is still out as research is still exploring citicoline’s potential in this department. Personally, I’m hesitant to give it the full go here, namely because research is still playing catch-up. Yet, given citicoline’s demonstrated benefits on repairing brain cell membranes and generating power for energy-demanding tasks, it makes sense that researchers are considering citicoline as a healing agent.

How to Take Citicoline

• For brain health and cognition, recommended dosages range from 1000 – 2000 mg daily.
• Retail citicoline supplements typically supply 250 mg or 500 mg servings.
• Cognizin® branded citicoline is the premium and preferred form.

My Experience with Citicoline

Citicoline simply feels good.

Trust me: I’m a wordsmith as much as I’m the Nootropic Geek, so my use of the word “good” isn’t sheer laziness. It truly feels good. Not in the feel-good happy-joy B-vitamin sort of way, but in the way that tends to invoke the response “I’m feeling good” to the question “How are you doing today?”

You know what I mean by this: The closest example I can give is the feeling that comes after sleeping well and eating a healthy breakfast. That good feeling of feeling nourished and awake. Like your mind and body are working well enough to actually get sh** done today!

Occasionally, citicoline can be a bittersweet realization that I’ve allowed my default mind settings to run on “slow” and “sluggish.”

Although, I should admit that many times that I supplement standalone citicoline (that is to say: not in a premade stack), I do so with a Racetam — namely to take advantage of my mind’s peak cholinergic bio-activity. Yet, considering that most Racetams require a build-up period before their benefits kick in, I feel I can accurately attribute my clearer thinking, focus, and enhanced goodness more so with citicoline than the Racetams.

Perhaps it’s just me, too, but sometimes I get a sweet buttery taste in the back of my throat after supplementing citicoline. Only after. Never during. And only sometimes.

Am I alone on this?

Maybe… But, if I’m being frank, I like it.

Best Nootropic Supplements with Citicoline

Buying a standalone citicoline supplement is certainly an option, especially if you want to isolate the citicoline-enhanced cognitive experience. However, if a fully optimized brain is your ultimate goal, then stacking citicoline with other cholinergic nootropics would be your best option. Some premade nootropic brain health stacks do this for you, including:

Mind Lab Pro

Featuring citicoline (as the premium, well-researched Cognizin®) at a sizable 250 mg dosage, Mind Lab Pro owes much of its success to this powerful cholinergic compound. However, Mind Lab Pro doesn’t force its citicoline to act on its own, smartly stacking the cholinergic with Bacopa monnieri — a powerful Ayurvedic adaptogen that improves acetylcholine activity by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine.

Together, citicoline and Bacopa theoretically synergize for an exceptionally enhanced acetylcholine status, supplying raw choline for acetylcholine synthesis while enhancing the duration of acetylcholine’s synaptic activity.

The result? Better memory and focus for longer. This is great for both academic and workplace productivity — and perhaps a must for epic nerd tasks, such as finally getting around to reading Infinite Jest.

Want some? Get the best deal on Mind Lab Pro here.

Read my in-depth review on Mind Lab Pro.

Performance Lab Mind

Let’s say you want an isolated citicoline experience on the cholinergic end in addition to other powerful, non-cholinergic acting nootropics. For you, I suggest Performance Lab Mind — essentially a simplified version of Mind Lab Pro that supplies perhaps the four best ingredients in MLP’s formula: citicoline (as Cognizin®), phosphatidylserine (as Sharp-PS®), L-Tyrosine (as Ajipure®), and Maritime Pine Bark extract.

More advanced DIY nootropic crafters may appreciate this stack for its shortened simplicity: by supplying only a few high-powered nootropics, Performance Lab Mind is much easier to stack with other nootropic brain health stacks, limiting any negative ingredient interaction risk.

Although, really, Performance Lab Mind accomplishes major brain boosts on its own.

Want some? Get the best deal on Performance Lab Mind here.

Read my in-depth review on Performance Lab Mind.

Is Citicoline a Good Nootropic?

If I had to take only one nootropic supplement from now to the end times, I’d think very hard on the decision for maybe 0.5 to 0.7 seconds, then I’d pick citicoline.

While I realize that nootropics are wide-ranging with any number of non-overlapping bio-effects, typically when I think of nootropics, I think of substances and compounds that enhance focus, energy, and memory.

Citicoline does all of these, while also preserving brain health.

It’s a major multi-tasking nootropic that checks so many benefits on the cognition and brain health lists that you won’t need many other nootropics if you’re supplementing citicoline. Just check out our other nootropic reviews, then return here. There aren’t many benefits left behind by citicoline.

It’s that good.

More importantly, it makes me feel good.

So, yes–most indubitably, undoubtedly, irrefutably YES: Citicoline is a good nootropic.

Read my Best Nootropic Supplements to Buy in 2021 list here.

Overall Citicoline Nootropic Power Rating

Brain Energy
Neurotransmitters
Cerebral Circulation
Brainwaves
Brain Regeneration
Neuroprotective
Average