Benefits
Working Memory Enhancement
Northumbria University clinical study demonstrated overall benefit on working memory function with Cognivia™; performance increased over time of consumption. INSERM study during intense physical activity showed +9% increase in numeric working memory.
Single-Dose to Prolonged Use Efficacy
Distinguishes Cognivia™ from many cognitive ingredients requiring 4-12 weeks for effect — Cognivia shows efficacy from SINGLE INTAKE plus continued benefit with prolonged use. Useful for both acute (event/exam) and chronic (daily) cognitive support.
Reaction Time Improvement
INSERM placebo-controlled trial showed systematic and overall significant DECREASE in reaction time vs placebo throughout test points — suggests higher attention performance for cognitive performance applications including e-gaming.
Reduced Perceived Exertion (Cognitive + Physical)
INSERM trial showed Cognivia™ reduced rate of perceived exertion during intense physical activity — cognitive benefits combined with physical performance subjective improvement.
Synergistic Sage Mechanism
Garden Sage + Spanish Sage combination outperforms individual sage sources in Nexira's in vivo study — synergistic effect on long-term memory in both single-dose and prolonged use.
Mechanism of action
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition (Modest)
Both sage species have documented acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity — preserves acetylcholine in synapses; supports memory and attention. Modest effect (compared to pharmaceutical AChE inhibitors); contributes to cognitive support.
CamKII Pathway Activation
Nexira in vivo study demonstrated Cognivia™'s mechanism involves CamKII (Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent protein Kinase II) pathway — central to memory consolidation and synaptic plasticity. Distinguished mechanistic finding.
Essential Oil Encapsulation Technology
Spanish Sage essential oil is encapsulated for stability and delivery — preserves volatile compounds (1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene) from degradation; enables convenient powder format with bioavailable essential oil delivery.
Antioxidant / Anti-Inflammatory
Sage species contain rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and other phenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects — may contribute to neuroprotective profile.
Clinical trials
Clinical trial on healthy active volunteers using COMPASS battery cognitive tests with Cognivia™.
Healthy active volunteers.
Overall benefit on working memory function; increase of performance over time of consumption; efficacy from single intake to prolonged use.
Placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, crossover clinical study during intense physical activity.
Adults during intense physical activity.
+9% increase in numeric working memory; significant decrease in reaction time throughout test points; significant decrease in rate of perceived exertion vs placebo.
About this ingredient
COGNIVIA™ is a PROPRIETARY VEGETAL NOOTROPIC developed by NEXIRA (France) — first ingredient to combine GARDEN SAGE LEAF EXTRACT (Salvia officinalis) and SPANISH SAGE ENCAPSULATED ESSENTIAL OIL (Salvia lavandulifolia) for synergistic cognitive enhancement. RECOGNITION: 2020 NutraIngredients Awards (Europe & USA) finalist in HEALTHY AGING and COGNITIVE FUNCTION categories. CLINICAL EVIDENCE base: Northumbria University study (working memory in healthy active volunteers); INSERM placebo-controlled study during intense physical activity; Nexira in vivo CamKII mechanism study. POSITIONING: 'BOOST WORKING MEMORY' for cognition, e-gaming, intense physical/mental performance contexts. TWO SAGE SOURCES — DISTINCT BIOACTIVES: (1) GARDEN SAGE (Salvia officinalis) — leaf extract; provides rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, water-soluble phenolic compounds; (2) SPANISH SAGE (Salvia lavandulifolia) — encapsulated essential oil; provides 1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene, other volatile terpenes. SYNERGY: combined effects exceed individual sage sources in cognitive measures.
EVIDENCE-BASED USES: (1) WORKING MEMORY enhancement; (2) Reaction time improvement; (3) Single-dose acute cognitive support (exam, presentation, e-gaming); (4) Prolonged cognitive support; (5) E-GAMING / cognitive performance under physical stress; (6) Mental performance during physical activity; (7) Healthy aging cognitive support.
CRITICAL CAUTIONS: (1) PREGNANCY — sage essential oil traditionally cautioned in pregnancy due to thujone content (some sage species; less in S. lavandulifolia) and theoretical uterotonic effects; AVOID Cognivia™ supplementation in pregnancy; (2) LACTATION — sage may reduce milk supply (folk traditional use to dry up milk during weaning); AVOID during breastfeeding when maintaining supply; useful at weaning if needed; (3) THUJONE CONCERN — some sage essential oils contain thujone (neurotoxin in high doses); Salvia lavandulifolia has lower thujone content than Salvia officinalis; both species used in Cognivia™ at controlled levels with encapsulation; product safety validated in clinical trials at recommended doses; (4) DOSE — Nexira specifies recommended use level; product format allows easy dosing; clinical research uses both single-dose and daily; (5) ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGY — Spanish Sage essential oil is encapsulated for stability — preserves volatile compounds, enables powder format, controls dose; product quality depends on encapsulation integrity; (6) WORKING MEMORY APPLICATIONS — Cognivia targets WORKING memory specifically (short-term, manipulation of information) rather than long-term memory or reasoning; relevant for: complex tasks, multi-step problems, mental arithmetic, e-gaming, decision-making under load; (7) E-GAMING POSITIONING — Cognivia's reaction time improvement and cognitive performance under physical/mental stress make it relevant for esports/gaming applications; growing market segment; (8) FOR HEALTHY AGING — modest cognitive support during cognitive aging; not Alzheimer's treatment; lifestyle factors (exercise, sleep, diet, social engagement) foundational; (9) COMPARED TO OTHER COGNITIVE INGREDIENTS — Cognivia has unique single-dose efficacy (vs. bacopa, ginkgo requiring 4-12 weeks); reasonable acute cognitive support; (10) APPLICATIONS — food supplements (capsules, tablets, sticks, powders); water-dispersible powder format; (11) ORGANIC GRADE AVAILABLE; manufactured in France; (12) PENDING EFSA CLAIMS related to memory; verify current claim status; (13) BRAND VERIFICATION — Cognivia™ is Nexira trademark; specific clinical evidence is for this branded form; generic dual sage formulations may differ in encapsulation and mechanism.