I’ve been testing out and reviewing supplements for a long time, and 2015 is definitely the year of the brain booster. It seems like a new one pops up on my radar almost every day. But are they really new, or are they just the same old thing, repackaged and presented slightly differently? That’s a legitimate question, and one we intend to answer here today.

What Is NeuroCell?

We’re all looking for that “Limitless Pill.” The one that keeps us sharp, focused, and at the top of our game. Whether you’ve noticed some early age-related decline, or you just want to improve your work or study efforts and results, maybe a pill can help.

NeuroCell belongs to a category of supplements called nootropics. It contains a collection of ingredients thought to increase the activity of neurons in your brain by increasing the presence of neurotransmitters, the chemicals used to facilitate communication between cells.

Benefits of NeuroCell

NeuroCell marketing focuses on preventing the natural mental decline that comes with age. According to their website, we lose 60% of our mental focus between the ages of 25 and 70, though they don’t make reference to a specific study where this statistic comes from. NeuroCell is supposed to be able to combat that decline. So by using NeuroCell, you can expect:

• An increased ability to focus on the task at hand.
• A clearer understanding of what you’re attempting to comprehend.
• The ability to store learned information more efficiently.
• An increase in mental energy.
• A better overall mood.

If you’ve ever taken Adderall before, whether prescribed or off-label, that’s the idea of what NeuroCell says you should expect. Of course, no over-the-counter supplement will get you as good an effect as the prescribed meds, but that’s what NeuroCell attempts.

Now it’s our job to figure out if it has a chance in hell of even coming close.

NeuroCell Ingredients

The first step toward knowing whether or not NeuroCell is effective is looking at the ingredient profile. We were pleased to see that the NeuroCell website provides a listing of all the active ingredients. Believe it or not, this isn’t always the case. Some products expect you to buy without even knowing what’s in them. So this is a plus for NeuroCell.

The NeuroCell formula uses a number of ingredients commonly found in these brain boosting smart pills, including:

• Vitamin B3 (aka Niacin) which improves blood flow throughout your body, including to your brain.
• Vitamin B6 which provides steady energy without any crash.
• Caffeine which is a stimulant that helps keep you alert and focused. It’s including in probably the majority of brain boosting supplements
• GABA which is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible mainly for calming fear and anxiety when the brain is overstimulated.
• Bacopa Monnieri which is used in several formulations and thought to improve memory and reduce anxiety.
• Alpha GPC which is a form of choline, which works to repair and support cell membrane health. This is important in that it may help counteract age related decline.
• L-Theanine which reduces anxiety.
• Phosphatidylserine which is showing to be effective in combating Alzheimer’s Disease.
• L-Tyrosine which improves mental alertness.
• Vinpocetine which improves circulation in the brain, providing needed oxygen and nutrients to improve cognitive function.
• Huperzine A which is showing itself to have the ability to improve memory while fighting against age-related decline.

It’s a pretty decent list with some potentially helpful components, but we need to note what’s missing. They don’t list how much of each ingredient is present. That makes it very difficult to judge whether or not NeuroCell is ultimately effective. And it’s just as difficult to judge what kind of side effects you might expect.

Take caffeine for example. If there are 25 mg of caffeine in the formula, you can feel fairly assured there won’t be any caffeine-related side effects like jitters. On the other hand, you couldn’t really expect much benefit from that small amount. If there are 300 mg of caffeine, many users would find that to be too much for comfort. They would feel jittery, wired, and ultimately they’d crash. Yet there would be a noticeable increase in alertness and energy.

NeuroCell Side Effects

Generally speaking, the ingredients in NeuroCell are safe and well tolerated. But without any dosing information, it’s impossible to say with any real certainty.

NeuroCell and CNN

You may have arrived at this review because you saw an “article” on CNN.com about how Stephen Hawking uses NeuroCell to feel sharper than he has in years. Let tell you right off the bat, the article is a fake. Stephen Hawking has almost certainly never even heard of NeuroCell. This is just a slimy marketing tactic used by several different supplements. I’ve seen them use Bill Gates, Anderson Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, and Denzel Washington, saying that they’ve all used NeuroCell to boost their brain power. They haven’t.

NeuroCell’s not the only pill to use this scam. Others are Synagen IQ and Cogniq. I can’t verify that these are all the same thing, but it’s likely that they jump around from name to name to stay one step ahead of any regulating agencies that might object to their methods.

Below, I’ve added a screen capture of this same article, only this one is shilling for Cogniq. I’m telling you guys, whether this is the same article used by different companies, or the same company putting out supplements under different names, these articles are not being specifically written about the products named in them. They’re being traded around product to product.

They’re even using Bill Gates:

Apparently, Anderson Cooper uses it too:

Where to Buy

NeuroCell is primarily sold online through its official website. One bottle contains a month’s supply and costs $57.95. If you buy 2 bottles, you get 1 free, bringing your per bottle price down to $41.30. If you buy 3 bottles, you get 2 free, so each bottle is only $31.99.

There is a money back guarantee, but it’s not very helpful if you’re looking to try NeuroCell risk free. You can only get a refund if you send back a new, unopened bottle. So if you’ve opened it and used it, you’ve voided the guarantee. Basically useless.

It’s also sold at Amazon.com where you can pick up a single bottle for $50.

Neurocell Reviews

Because they sell Neurocell on Amazon, we have access to a good sample of customer feedback. The reviews are pretty evenly split between the positive and negative.

Here are a few favorable examples:

And here are some of the not so favorable ones:

And this guy is on to the whole article scam:

NeuroCell Complaints

Neurocell has received a complaint with the Better Business Bureau basically for charging a customer more than they believed they would be charged, then refusing to issue a refund even after the customer returned the product. Granted, it’s only one complaint at this point, but given the fake article added to the complaint, it doesn’t put these guys in a very good light.

NeuroCell Pros and Cons

Advantages of NeuroCell

• The ingredients are listed on the website so we know what goes into the formula.
• There is no “free trial” scam that secretly initiates monthly automatic refills, like so many online supplements these days.
• There are several favorable reviews on Amazon.

Disadvantages of NeuroCell

• They don’t disclose ingredient amounts, which makes it hard to gauge both effectiveness and likelihood of side effects.
• There are no NeuroCell reviews available from customers who’ve used it. This makes it tough to tell how it’s working for real people in the real world.
• They want you to believe Stephen Hawking uses it, but it’s just not true.
• There is no effective money back guarantee, as their refund policy only applies to unopened bottles
• There are several negative reviews from customers who’ve used it.

Conclusion

There’s really nothing to make NeuroCell jump out as better or worse that any of the dozens of pills just like it. In fact, it’s barely distinguishable from the pack. With mixed customer feedback and no money back guarantee, there’s no reason to choose NeuroCell over the others. There are effective brain boosting supplements, but I wouldn’t put my trust in this one.

Have You Used NeuroCell? Leave Your Review Below!

Ask A Question

User Questions and Answers

I read your review about neurocell. I would like to know, how you have determined that the testimony of Anderson Cooper on cnn is faked. I would appreciated . Thank you Eva -Eva

The whole article is fake. If Anderson Cooper really endorsed a product, there'd be more evidence of it than just one "article".- Rob

Is neurocell fake -Teresa

I wouldn't say it's fake, but I also wouldn't recommend it. Check out Optimind instead. It's much more effective.- Rob

Author: Rob Miller

Rob Miller founded SupplementCritique.com over 7 years ago, and has been the chief editor ever since. He has a diploma in Advanced Dietary Supplements Advisor, and worked at GNC for 3 years. He KNOWS supplements, both inside and out. Rob currently resides in Jupiter, FL, with his wife of 4 years.  Learn more about him in his Bio here. Follow him on Twitter , Facebook, LinkedIn, or find him on Google +. View all posts by Rob Miller