Women’s brains are quite unique compared to men. They contain different variations of chemicals that produce different effects.
Thus, nootropics for women may offer specific support for the female brain and a woman's cognitive demands.
Also called "smart drugs," Nootropics are supplements that can help:
- boost brain health
- provide mental clarity
- enhance focus
- sharpen memory in women.
They can also help reduce negative reactions to stressful situations.
Below, we’ll go through exactly why women’s brains differ from men’s and which nootropics can help women, specifically.
Key Takeaways
- Women’s brains differ from men’s due to hormonal fluctuations, which can influence stress levels, mood, and cognitive performance. Some nootropics are well-tailored to women's needs.
- Nootropic supplements can help women manage hormonal stress and mood fluctuations, particularly during PMS, menstruation, and menopause.
- Some nootropics may help women with depression or anxiety. Lion’s Mane Mushroom supports Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and has been shown in women's research to enhance mood.
- Supplements like Bacopa Monnieri, citicoline and Phosphatidylserine support memory and reduce brain fog, common during perimenopause and menopause.
- Relaxation and Balance: L-Theanine and Rhodiola Rosea help to promote relaxation, mental alertness and help regulate the body's response to physical and emotional stressors.
Top Brain Supplements for Women to Consider:
Mind Lab Pro® (MLP): Features premium nootropics in vegan, clean-label capsules designed to support women’s unique brain health and cognitive performance. It is natural and safe: Non-GMO, soy-free, and caffeine-free, aligning well with many women's health and lifestyle preferences. MLP is also one of the few nootropic supplements with research-backed cognitive function benefits. Learn more about how MLP works
How are Women’s Brains Unique?
Women’s brains are different from men’s brains in various ways.
For example, women tend to be more empathetic than men.
Women also have more hormones like estrogen and progesterone that heighten their reactions to stress, making them more susceptible to it and certain health issues.
Let’s dive a little deeper.
Women Tend to Have More Mood Issues Than Men
A woman's hormonal status can influence her mood. Some nootropics for women may help.Studies say women have mood fluctuations more often than men.<1>
These fluctuations are usually caused by stress, which can lead to a downward spiral.
According to research, the fluctuation of hormones like estrogen in women may increase their susceptibility to stress and, therefore, certain brain/mood issues.
Fluctuating hormones cause more stress and negative emotions especially in women with PMS (premenstrual syndrome). In addition, hormone fluctuation can cause more stress during menstruation.
Therefore, women with PMS and problems during menstruation may want to look into ways to ease their symptoms.
Women May be More Susceptible to Physical and Emotional Stress
Research shows that women report experiencing physical and emotional symptoms of stress more often than men.<2> Unfortunately, stress can lead to worse cognitive (and other) health issues.
For example, some women develop panic disorders during menopause because of the uncontrollable stress from fluctuating hormones. However, panic disorder is not a normal symptom of menopause.
Similarly, studies show that when anyone experiences stress for a prolonged period of time, it can cause both physical and emotional disorders including mood imbalance, heart issues, lack of ability to focus, and susceptibility to infections.<3>
Knowing this, it’s important to look for ways to counteract physical and emotional stress. Some nootropics for women are especially effective for stress-related cognitive concerns -- but more on that later.
Fluctuating hormones may be responsible for some of the cognitive challenges that are unique to women. By Mikael Häggström
Women Are More Likely to Develop Anxiety-Related Issues
Women are two times more likely to develop anxiety than men, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. They are also more likely to develop blue moods. This difference may come from a quicker reaction to the fight-or-flight response that occurs in women compared to men. It happens as a result of estrogen and progesterone that is more present in the female body.
In relation, women seem to have socially constructed beliefs that worrying must be avoided at all costs, which ultimately causes more anxious thoughts.<4> In other words, women’s social need to avoid worrying ultimately might make them worry more. Choosing the right dietary supplement may help.
Perimenopause and Menopause May be Linked With Brain Fog
Women's nootropics include memory supplements that may help with the cognitive challenges of menopause.Experts say it’s normal for women to feel more anxious during menopause and perimenopause. Again, it’s a natural reaction to endocrine system fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone in the female body that occurs specifically during menopause and perimenopause.
Menopause can also bring about symptoms of brain fog and memory loss. Have you ever forgotten your glasses were on your head? Maybe you’re constantly forgetting where you put your keys. Well, women may notice these things happening more and more as they progress into menopause.
In relation, it turns out that natural estrogen helps cognition in younger, middle-aged women, but stops helping when women get older.<5>
As such, early nootropic supplementation may help to promote energized mental clarity in women experiencing hormonal changes.
Mind Lab Pro® Nootropics for Women
If you are having trouble dealing with stress and other cognitive issues induced by hormone fluctuation, nootropics might help. Here’s a guide explaining the best nootropics for women in Mind Lab Pro® and how they may help with women's specific cognitive needs.
Cognizin® Citicoline
Citicoline is the best source of choline that you can buy in a supplement; Cognizin® is the best form of Citicoline. This nootropic is special because it does so much, enhancing brain energy, brain regeneration, neurotransmitter status and more.
Cognizin® Citicoline can help men and women boost brainpower in many ways. For our current purposes, it is noteworthy because Cognizin® Citicoline has women-specific clinical research on its cognitive effects.
- One study of 60 women between the ages of 40-60 found that Cognizin® Citicoline appeared to improve women's attentional performance.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Cognizin® Citicoline
L-Theanine
That relaxing, mood-balancing sensation you get while drinking green tea is largely due to its active nootropic compound L-Theanine. An amino acid found in green tea, L-Theanine can increase Alpha wave activity in women's brains. Alpha waves are associated with wakeful relaxation, creativity, mental clarity and mood enhancement. In other words, L-Theanine can help ease anxiety, which is more prevalent in women because of hormone fluctuations.Essentially, L-Theanine is a great natural relaxation nootropic for women that can help concentration by altering brain waves.
More on Mind Lab Pro® L-Theanine
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola Rosea may help reduce women’s sensitivity to stress right away. It may also help the body react more calmly to stress in the future if taken consistently.
It does so by influencing the sympathoadrenal-system (SAS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). The SAS regulates the body’s short-term reactions to stressful situations. With continued use, Rhodiola Rosea can then help control how the HPA axis reacts to long-term stress. As such, Rhodiola may be helpful for women experiencing excess stress due to aging, hormone imbalance or a hectic day-to-day life.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Rhodiola Rosea
N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
Whether you’re a busy mom with endless responsibilities, a business women completing endless tasks, or both- you could probably use some assistance. Women who multitask can use supplements containing N-Acteyl L-Tyrosine to reduce effects of stress, support mental clarity, and boost memory.
Women multitaskers naturally burn through catecholamine neurotransmitters faster. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, therefore, can help multitaskers by protecting brain chemicals from being drained by stress. In other words, stress depletes brain power and N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine helps to enhance brain power. Its effects get more pronounced as you experience more stress.
More on Mind Lab Pro® N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine
Does your life feel like this? If so, the Rhodiola Rosea and N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine nootropic combo in Mind Lab Pro® may help you cognitively excel during times of stress.Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane Mushroom has been suggested to reduce the effects of anxiety and mood imbalance, according to a study from Kyoto Bunkyo University. It does so by supporting the release of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the nervous system and brain, which may also help the hippocampus become more responsive to learning new things. NGF is associated with age-related brain issues and mood problems; therefore, supporting it helps with cognition, memory and stress reduction.
- In one gender-specific women's study, supplementing with Lion's Mane Mushroom improved mood balance in women with an average age of 40. Researchers suggested these cognitive benefits were due to bioactivities other than Lion's Mane's NGF effects.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Lions Mane Mushroom
Bacopa Monnieri
Bacopa Monnieri is an herb that provides active nootropic bacosides to optimize cognitive processes, promote memory and learning, and help balance the mood in stressful situations. Associated with academics, it may also help women learn and remember new information more readily.
Additionally, Bacopa Monnieri may work better than certain therapies because it appears to calm the mind while enhancing cognition instead of calming the mind while slowing down cognition. As such, it’s good for stressed-out students or women struggling with cognition and memory during menopause and perimenopause.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Bacopa Monnieri
Phosphatidylserine
Phosphatidylserine, or PS, is phospholipid nutrition that helps build cell membranes throughout the body and is most prevalent in the brain. It is known as the best nootropic for memory problems associated with aging. This is because it can slow down or completely reverse biochemical changes and the decline of nerve cells due to aging.
As a result, PS is great to look for in brain health supplements for women who are experiencing any sort of mild memory issues, mild cognitive impairment or brain fog associated with age-related cognitive decline.
More on Mind Lab Pro® Phosphatidylserine
Top Brain Supplements for Women
Mind Lab Pro®, the Universal Nootropic™, supplies the best nootropics for women in premium forms and effective potencies.
Overall, nootropics for women are tailored to the unique female brain.
Due to hormone fluctuation, women tend to have more issues with stress than men, with can cause all kinds of larger issues in the brain.
Fortunately, nootropics are there to lend a helping hand if you feel like you’re lacking focus, constantly tired, or constantly stressed out due to enhanced negative reactions to stressors.
Non-GMO, soy-free, caffeine-free and presented in premium vegan NutriCaps®, Mind Lab Pro® features a clean label that works with women's lifestyles.
MLP® as a "Universal Nootropic" to boost all types of cognitive function in all types of people -- especially women.
Ingredients: Citicoline, Phosphatidylserine (PS), Bacopa monnieri (24% bacosides), Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom, Maritime Pine Bark Extract (95% proanthocyanidins), N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, L-Theanine, Rhodiola rosea (3% rosavins, 1% salidrosides), NutriGenesis® B-Vitamins.
Mind Lab Pro® is an 11-in-1 nootropic supplement formulated to improve cognitive function, memory, focus, overall brain health and much more.
MLP® is backed by research. Specifically, two double-blind, placebo-controlled human research trials conducted at the University of Leeds have demonstrated its benefits for information processing and several aspects of memory.(6,7).
Ultimately, Mind Lab Pro® is the one nootropic supplement that does everything you need -- focus, memory, attention, concentration, mood, relaxation, stress resistance, memory and more.
To achieve this impressive result, it naturally optimizes brain circulation, brain energy levels, brain chemicals, neuroprotection and several other key contributors to overall brain health.
It is also a smart choice for the smarter sex because it universally helps support brain function, including women's unique cognitive performance needs and more.
Summary: Best Nootropics for Women
Women face unique cognitive challenges due to hormonal fluctuations, stress, and age-related changes, which can impact mood, memory, focus, and overall brain health.
Nootropic dietary supplements tailored to these needs, such as Citicoline, L-Theanine, Rhodiola Rosea, and Lion’s Mane Mushroom, provide targeted support for managing stress, enhancing mental clarity, and improving cognitive performance.
Supplements like Mind Lab Pro® offer a clean, effective, and holistic approach to supporting women’s unique cognitive demands. By addressing these challenges proactively with high-quality nootropics, women can maintain optimal brain health and thrive in their daily lives.
References
- Understanding the Brain’s Response to Ovarian Hormones. Estrogen and the Brain. Yale School of Medicine. 2016.
- Gender and Stress. American Psychological Association.
- Stress in America. American Psychological Association. Bahrami, F and Yousefi, N. Females are more anxious than males: a metacognitive perspective. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2011 Fall; 5(2):83-90.
- Determining the Effects of Hormone Therapy on Memory. Hormones and Memory. Yale School of Medicine. 2016.
- Gauthreaux, C et al. The association between pregnancy intendedness and experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression among new mothers in the United States, 2009 to 2011: A secondary analysis of PRAMS data. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Feb; 96(6):e5851.
