How Fast Does Phosphatidylserine (PS) Work?

The Short Answer

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is one of those supplements that doesn’t work right away. The first results are typically seen after 4-6 weeks of supplementation. This is because phosphatidylserine is naturally found in your brain, maintaining its steady levels. It takes weeks, in some cases months, for PS levels to build up to a significant extent from supplementation, where you start noticing benefits. Even then, PS is not as potent as some other nootropics. It’s more of a multivitamin kind of supplement – for your brain.

A Little About Phosphatidylserine

Phosphatidylserine is a type of fat that can be found in the brain and other organs. It is also found in certain foods, such as soybeans and cow brains.

Phosphatidylserine is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, helping with ADHD, and age-related memory loss. People also use it for other conditions as determined by your doctor. PS supplements are typically taken by mouth for a wide variety of benefits, even heart health.

As far as studies go, effectiveness of Phosphatidylserine has been well-established, particularly in therms of brain health. It’s actually one of the only ones, if not the only, FDA-approved nootropic.

PS helps to fight the premature decline of acetylcholine, a neurochemical that is involved in your memory function.

Factors that Influence How Fast Phosphatidylserine Works

The speed at which any supplement works depends on the dosage and the person’s age. It’s no different with PS.

For example, in some cases, phosphatidylserine will start working within an hour of taking it but in other cases, it can take up to two weeks before you notice any results.

Everybody has their own unique brain and what works for one person might not work for another. There are many factors that influence how fast brain supplements work.

Some of these factors include: the age and gender of the person, lifestyle habits, genetics, metabolic rate, and environment.

Nootropics such as phosphatidylserine work by supporting the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. As we’ve seen earlier, one of them is acetylcholine. PS also improves the communication between neurons and helps to remove toxic waste from your brain. This can result in a reduction of ADHD symptoms.

The efficacy of nootropics depends on how quickly they can be absorbed into a person’s bloodstream and how quickly they can reach their target area in the brain. In other words, it depends on metabolism and genetics.

The speed at which nootropics work also depends on an individual’s lifestyle habits, like sleep patterns and diet. You shouldn’t take PS before talking to your doctor if you’re currently taking any medications.

The Absorption Speed of Phosphatidylserine

The absorption speed of phosphatidylserine varies depending on the person taking it, but it generally takes about 45 minutes to take effect. The first effects of phosphatidylserine are often noticed around 1-2 hours after the dose, and the effects can persist for 3-5 hours.

Phosphatidylserine is a water-soluble phospholipid with a head group of choline, a phosphate group, and one molecule of ethanolamine. It is present in cell membranes where it functions to facilitate the transfer of lipids.

While the immediate effects might not be as noticeable, long-term benefits of using phosphatidylserine include increased memory, reduced risk of dementia, and the potential ability to lower blood glucose levels. Phosphatidylserine can also lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Because of all of these benefits, it’s a good idea to add PS to your daily nootropic stack – between 100-200mg per day is ideal. Or even better, just eat PS rich foods, such as eggs, fish, and animal organs.