Supplement

Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is a fat-like phospholipid that sits in the membranes of brain cells, where it helps nerve cells signal to one another. People mostly look at it for memory problems such as mild cognitive impairment, and small trials found cognition and forgetting improved, though the evidence is limited. Those studies were tiny, with 8 to 18 people each, and one tested it alongside omega-3 fats, so the findings are early.

Sources: PMID 20523044

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
12 studies cited

Best evidence: Grade B
Conditions studied: 16
Outcomes: 73
Graded outcomes: 01105

Evidence by condition

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

16 conditions

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognitive Decline Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	2 studies	92 people
Studies that measured cognitive decline Double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer typeEur Neuropsychopharmacol · PMID 1633433 Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's diseasePsychopharmacol Bull · PMID 1609044
	Cerebral Glucose Utilization Small Increase	Changes; see studies	Small effect		8 people

Cognitive Improvement

Cognitive Improvement: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	18 people
Studies that measured cognition Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialDement Geriatr Cogn Disord · PMID 20523044
	Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured cortisol The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 22017963
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured fatigue symptoms Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active malesMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16394955
	Stress Signs and Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	16 people
Studies that measured stress signs and symptoms Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stressNutr Neurosci · PMID 18616866
	Processing Accuracy	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Processing Speed	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people

Memory Improvement

Cognition: improves
Memory: improves

Memory Improvement: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	122 people
Studies that measured cognition Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialDement Geriatr Cogn Disord · PMID 20523044
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	122 people
Studies that measured memory An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive declineIsr J Psychiatry Relat Sci · PMID 11201936

Metabolic Health

Cognition: improves
Cortisol: improves
Fatigue Symptoms: improves

Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	18 people
Studies that measured cognition Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialDement Geriatr Cogn Disord · PMID 20523044
	Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured cortisol The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 22017963
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured fatigue symptoms Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active malesMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16394955
	Processing Accuracy	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people

Mood Improvement

Cognition: improves
Cortisol: improves
Fatigue Symptoms: improves

Mood Improvement: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cognition Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	18 people
Studies that measured cognition Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialDement Geriatr Cogn Disord · PMID 20523044
	Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured cortisol The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 22017963
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	18 people
Studies that measured fatigue symptoms Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active malesMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16394955
	Processing Accuracy	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Processing Speed	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people
	Testosterone	Improves (the measure goes up)			18 people

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD Symptoms: improves
Attention: improves
Hyperactivity: improves

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	ADHD Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		216 people
	Attention	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	216 people
Studies that measured attention Phosphatidylserine for the Treatment of Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 33539192
	Hyperactivity	Improves (the measure goes up)			216 people
	Impulsivity	Improves (the measure goes up)			216 people

Cycling Performance

Anaerobic Capacity: improves
Cortisol: improves
Fatigue Symptoms: improves

Cycling Performance: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anaerobic Capacity Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect		14 people
	Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	14 people
Studies that measured cortisol The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 22017963
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	14 people
Studies that measured fatigue symptoms Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active malesMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16394955
	Fat Oxidation	Improves (the measure goes up)			14 people
	Oxygen Cost of Exercise	Improves (the measure goes up)			14 people

Golf Performance

Golf Performance Metrics: improves
Stress Signs and Symptoms: improves

Golf Performance: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Golf Performance Metrics Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		20 people
	Stress Signs and Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	20 people
Studies that measured stress signs and symptoms Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stressNutr Neurosci · PMID 18616866

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Forgetting: improves
Memory: improves

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Forgetting Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		15 people
	Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	15 people
Studies that measured memory An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive declineIsr J Psychiatry Relat Sci · PMID 11201936

Alzheimer’s Disease

Cerebral Glucose Utilization: changes; see studies
Cognitive Decline: changes; see studies

Alzheimer’s Disease: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cerebral Glucose Utilization Small Increase	Changes; see studies	Small effect		8 people
	Cognitive Decline	Changes; see studies		2 studies	92 people
Studies that measured cognitive decline Double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer typeEur Neuropsychopharmacol · PMID 1633433 Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's diseasePsychopharmacol Bull · PMID 1609044

Mental Resilience

Heart Rate
Stress Signs and Symptoms: improves

Mental Resilience: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Heart Rate No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	16 people
Studies that measured heart rate Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaintsJ Clin Biochem Nutr · PMID 21103034
	Stress Signs and Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	16 people
Studies that measured stress signs and symptoms Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stressNutr Neurosci · PMID 18616866

Running Performance

Cortisol
Exercise-Induced Oxidation: changes; see studies
Inflammation: improves

Running Performance: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Cortisol No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	8 people
Studies that measured cortisol The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 22017963
	Exercise-Induced Oxidation	Changes; see studies		1 study	8 people
Studies that measured exercise-induced oxidation Phosphatidylserine supplementation and recovery following downhill runningMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16960523
	Inflammation	Improves (the measure goes down)			8 people
	Muscle Damage	Changes; see studies			8 people
	Muscle Soreness	Improves (the measure goes down)			8 people

Stress

Blood Lactate (Exercise)
Cortisol: improves
Growth Hormone: improves

Stress: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
Blood Lactate (Exercise) No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	9 people
Cortisol	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	9 people
Growth Hormone	Improves (the measure goes up)			9 people
Prolactin	Improves (the measure goes up)			9 people

Age Associated Memory Impairment And Cognitive Decline Aamcd

Blood Pressure
Cognitive Decline: improves
Cognition: improves

Age Associated Memory Impairment And Cognitive Decline Aamcd: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
Blood Pressure No effect		NoneNo effect		78 people
Cognitive Decline	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	198 people
Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	200 people
Heart Rate	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	78 people
Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	242 people
Reaction Time	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	120 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)	Improves (the measure goes up)			78 people
Liver Enzymes	Changes; see studies			78 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)	Improves (the measure goes down)			78 people
Total cholesterol	Improves (the measure goes down)			78 people
Triglycerides	Improves (the measure goes down)			78 people

Age-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD)

Blood Pressure
Cognitive Decline: changes; see studies
Cognition: improves

Age-Associated Memory Impairment and Cognitive Decline (AAMCD): outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
Blood Pressure No effect		NoneNo effect		78 people
Cognitive Decline	Changes; see studies		2 studies	198 people
Cognition	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	200 people
Heart Rate	Changes; see studies		1 study	78 people
Memory	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	242 people
Reaction Time	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	120 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)	Improves (the measure goes up)			78 people
Liver Enzymes	Changes; see studies			78 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)	Changes; see studies			78 people
Total cholesterol	Changes; see studies			78 people
Triglycerides	Changes; see studies			78 people

Dementia

Cognitive Decline: improves

Dementia: outcomes studied for Phosphatidylserine
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Cognitive Decline	Improves (the measure goes down)		2 studies	33 people

What the published studies found

1 automated reading

Automated reading of the published studies (Decosa evidence engine), for outcomes Dr. Grey has not graded yet. It is not a Dr. Grey grade and does not change one. How it is read

Cognitive function
The best available review (2026, 11 studies) found little or no difference in cognitive function. That review studied children, adolescents, and adults with mental disorders. 3 of the 6 studies read agree; 3 found an improvement. The evidence is moderate.
6 studies counted of 9 read: 1 review and 5 trials (710 people in the trials).
1. Systematic review, 2026; 11 studies; children, adolescents, and adults with mental disorders: no clear difference (the review the verdict rests on). findings were heterogeneous and inconsistent across diagnostic groups The Impact of Citicoline/Phosphatidylserine Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Executive Functions in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review of Controlled TrialsPubMed 42538853
2. Crossover trial, 2013; recreationally trained individuals: no clear difference. does not affect CF or RT Phosphatidylserine and caffeine attenuate postexercise mood disturbance and perception of fatigue in humansPubMed 23746562
3. Crossover trial, 2011; 18 people; lower body resistance trained college aged males: improves. significantly reduced the time needed for a correct calculation The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exercisePubMed 22017963
4. Randomised trial, 2010; 78 people: improves. memory scores in PS treated groups were significantly increased Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaintsPubMed 21103034
5. Randomised trial, 2001; 120 people: no clear difference. No significant differences were found in any of the outcome variables The influence of soy-derived phosphatidylserine on cognition in age-associated memory impairmentPubMed 11842880
6. Randomised trial, 1993; 494 people; elderly patients with moderate to severe cognitive decline: improves. Statistically significant improvements in the phosphatidylserine-treated group Cognitive decline in the elderly: a double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study on efficacy of phosphatidylserine administrationPubMed 8323999
Automated reading of the published studies (Decosa evidence engine), run 30 Sep 2026. It reads abstracts, can miss studies, and a repeat run can differ.

Key findings

Cognitive DeclineImproves (the measure goes down)
CognitionCognitive ImprovementImproves (the measure goes up)
Cerebral Glucose UtilizationChanges; see studies

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Grade B

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Studies cited

12 studies from PubMed

The influence of soy-derived phosphatidylserine on cognition in age-associated memory impairmentNutr Neurosci · PMID 11842880
Soybean-derived phosphatidylserine improves memory function of the elderly Japanese subjects with memory complaintsJ Clin Biochem Nutr · PMID 21103034
Phosphatidylserine containing omega-3 fatty acids may improve memory abilities in non-demented elderly with memory complaints: a double-blind placebo-controlled trialDement Geriatr Cogn Disord · PMID 20523044
Double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer typeEur Neuropsychopharmacol · PMID 1633433
Effects of phosphatidylserine in Alzheimer's diseasePsychopharmacol Bull · PMID 1609044
The effects of IQPLUS Focus on cognitive function, mood and endocrine response before and following acute exerciseJ Int Soc Sports Nutr · PMID 22017963
Influence of phosphatidylserine on cognitive performance and cortical activity after induced stressNutr Neurosci · PMID 18616866
Phosphatidylserine supplementation and recovery following downhill runningMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16960523
An open trial of plant-source derived phosphatydilserine for treatment of age-related cognitive declineIsr J Psychiatry Relat Sci · PMID 11201936
Effects of phosphatidylserine on exercise capacity during cycling in active malesMed Sci Sports Exerc · PMID 16394955
Blunting by chronic phosphatidylserine administration of the stress-induced activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy menEur J Clin Pharmacol · PMID 1325348
Phosphatidylserine for the Treatment of Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 33539192

Evidence by condition

Alzheimer’s Disease

Age Associated Memory Impairment And Cognitive Decline Aamcd

What the published studies found

Cognitive function

Key findings

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related supplements

Protocols that include Phosphatidylserine