Apoaequorin is derived from jellyfish called Aequorea victoria. A laboratory-made version of apoaequorin is the main ingredient in the over-the-counter dietary supplement called Prevagen.
(See also Overview of Dietary Supplements.)
Claims
Apoaequorin is said to improve mild age-related memory loss.
Evidence
There are no high-quality studies demonstrating that apoaequorin is effective for improving memory loss or for treating any health condition.
In a randomized study called the Madison Memory Study, 218 community-dwelling adults aged 40 to 91 with self-reported memory concerns were treated with apoaequorin or a matched placebo for 90 days. The subjects participated in various cognitive tasks designed to evaluate memory and learning. Overall, initial results and numerous posthoc analyses failed to show a significant difference in groups assigned to apoaequorin or placebo (1).
In 2017 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and New York State Attorney General charged the marketers of the dietary supplement Prevagen with making false and unsubstantiated claims (see FTC press release, January 9, 2017). The Madison Memory Study was discussed in the FTC complaint (2).
Adverse Effects
Adverse effects of apoaequorin may include headache, dizziness, and nausea, memory problems, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety. Overall, the safety of apoaequorin is not known.
Drug Interactions
The risk for serious drug interactions with apoaequorin is not known.
References
1. Moran DL, Underwood MY, Gabourie TA, Lerner KC: Effects of a supplement containing apoaequorin on verbal learning in older adults in the community. Adv Mind Body Med 30(1):4-11, 2016. PMID: 26878676.
2. FTC v. Quincy Bioscience Holding Co., S.D.N.Y. at 29-29, 2017, (No. 1:17-cv-00124).
