World Brain Health Day | Brain Health Nutrition Solutions Across the Lifespan

July 22, 2026 marks World Brain Day, an initiative launched by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). This year’s theme is “Brain Health for All.” More than 3.4 billion people worldwide are currently affected by neurological conditions. A healthy brain is essential for learning, working, and actively participating in family and social life^[1].

From brain development during pregnancy and infancy to emotional relaxation and better sleep in adulthood, and from maintaining mental vitality to supporting memory and concentration, people face distinct brain health needs at every stage of life. Leveraging key brain health ingredients—including Rigaba™ gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Rimind PS™ phosphatidylserine (PS), and choline—Richen Nutritionals provides diversified, benefit-oriented nutrition solutions that support brain health across the lifespan.

From Maternal Nutrition to Early Childhood Growth: Supporting Critical Stages of Brain Development

Pregnancy is a critical stage for the rapid development of the fetal brain and nervous system. After birth, the brain continues to grow and mature, making choline a key nutrient of increasing interest in maternal and early-childhood nutrition.

Choline is not only involved in the structural formation of neuronal cell membranes but also serves as an essential precursor for acetylcholine. It is therefore closely associated with neural signaling, learning, and memory. Studies have shown that infants in the higher-choline-intake group demonstrated faster information-processing speed^[2]. In a follow-up assessment conducted when the children reached seven years of age, researchers also observed that children whose mothers consumed 930 mg of choline per day during pregnancy showed better signal-detection performance in a sustained-attention task. These findings suggest that maternal choline intake during pregnancy may have long-term benefits for sustained attention in children^[3], providing scientific support for choline supplementation during pregnancy and early life.

Richen Nutritionals has developed a choline chloride dilution powder containing 11% choline as a choline source. Produced using spray-drying technology, it is suitable for large-scale manufacturing and can be applied in maternal nutrition supplements, infant formula, complementary food fortification, and children’s growth nutrition products, providing targeted formulation support for a wide range of end-use applications.

Supporting Modern Minds: Helping Manage Stress from Study and Work

Prolonged study and exam preparation, together with demanding workloads, can leave students, professionals, and other cognitively intensive groups in a persistent state of mental tension and fatigue. As the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, GABA interacts with GABA-A and GABA-B receptors to regulate neuronal cell membranes and reduce neuronal excitability, thereby supporting emotional relaxation^[4] and improved sleep.

A sleep-support study conducted by Richen Nutritionals using Rigaba™ GABA in zebrafish also provided animal-study evidence for its potential sleep-related benefits^[5]. In a caffeine-induced zebrafish insomnia model, intervention with different concentrations of GABA significantly reduced anxiety-related abnormal locomotor behavior and upregulated the expression of the anxiety-associated genes prl, pomc, crhb, and gr, indicating a potential calming effect.

In addition, GABA significantly reduced wakefulness duration and locomotor activity, downregulated the expression of the sleep-related genes gabra1, gabrg2, grin2aa, and grm6a, and upregulated mtnr1 expression, thereby demonstrating potential sleep-supporting effects.

Rigaba™ is China’s first patented GABA ingredient, launched in 2012. Produced through a natural lactic acid bacteria fermentation process and certified by BETA Laboratory as 100% naturally derived, Rigaba™ offers a purity of over 99%, excellent stability, and broad formulation compatibility. It can be incorporated into tablets, liquid beverages, powders, gummies, and various other finished product formats.

Preserving Memory in Later Life and Supporting Healthy Cognitive Aging

As people age, age-related changes in brain function may be accompanied by declining memory, slower responses, and reduced sleep quality. Persistent memory difficulties may also affect older adults’ confidence and emotional well-being, while increasing everyday safety concerns, such as getting lost or forgetting to take medication.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a naturally occurring phospholipid and an essential bioactive component of cell membranes. By improving membrane fluidity and facilitating neurotransmitter transmission, PS plays a key role in promoting communication between neurons while supporting memory, concentration, and cognitive function^[6]. It has therefore earned recognition as a premium ingredient for brain health and cognitive nutrition.

Rimind PS™ is Richen Nutritionals' flagship phosphatidylserine ingredient and is protected by three Chinese patents and one U.S. patent. Derived from non-GMO soybean lecithin, it is manufactured using a proprietary granulation technology that delivers uniform particle appearance without agglomeration or clumping, offering excellent flowability and stability. Rimind PS™ is suitable for tablets, capsules, powders, and a wide range of finished dosage forms.

From supporting brain development in early life and meeting the intensive cognitive demands of education and work, to managing memory, cognition, and sleep during healthy aging, brain health nutrition is evolving toward more targeted, systematic, and comprehensive solutions across the lifespan.

References：

[1] https://wfneurology.org/world-brain-day-2026

[2] Caudill MA, Strupp BJ, Muscalu L, et al. Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double-blind, controlled feeding study. FASEB Journal. 2018;32(4):2172–2180.

[3] Bahnfleth CL, Strupp BJ, Caudill MA, Canfield RL. Prenatal choline supplementation improves child sustained attention: A 7-year follow-up of a randomized controlled feeding trial. FASEB Journal. 2022;36(1):e22054.

[4] International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 2009, 60(sup5): 106-113.

[5] 上海轻工业， 2024(5):198-201.

[6] Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition, 2010, 47(3) 246-255.