FTC wins lawsuit against the Manufacturers of Prevagen

Several brands are marketed with ingredients known as Prevagen..

Court ruling curbs unfounded claims for memory supplement. 

Samuel Levine, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, issued the following statement on the ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on the FTC and New York Attorney General’s lawsuit against the makers of the dietary supplement Prevagen. The court ordered the makers to cease making the deceptive claims challenged in the lawsuit:

“Following seven years of hard-fought litigation, including a jury trial, we are pleased that the Court has ordered Quincy Bioscience to cease making claims about Prevagen that mislead Americans concerned about memory loss. Companies should take note and remember that health claims need to be backed up by reliable scientific evidence."

This ruling is another win in the FTC’s efforts to protect older Americans. Last month, we announced new protections against tech support scams, which disproportionately target older consumers. Read more about out comprehensive efforts in our Protecting Older Consumers Report.

Commercials for Prevagen 50 times: story after story from everyday people who describe improvement in memory once they began taking Prevagen. Perhaps you recall older commercials playing off the idea that many people take supplements that boast of gut, joint, and heart health claims. Those commercials memorably asked, "So why wouldn't you take something for the most important part of you… your brain? With an ingredient originally found in jellyfish! Healthier brain, better life!"

Never mind that the ingredient from jellyfish (apoaequorin)  (apoaequorin is a "calcium-binding protein) that was supposed to deliver these benefits has no known role in human memory. Or that many experts believe supplements like this are most likely digested in the stomach and never wind up anywhere near the brain.

Can a supplement actually improve memory? If it doesn't work, why is the manufacturer allowed to suggest it does? And if apoaequorin is so great, why aren't jellyfish smarter (as a colleague of mine wonders)?

Statement on FTC’s Win in Lawsuit Against the Makers of Dietary Supplement Prevagen | Federal Trade Commission