DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol, also written as dimethylethanolamine) is a compound that has been marketed for brain health and cognitive enhancement for decades. The theory is straightforward: DMAE might increase levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. This premise has led to DMAE appearing in countless “nootropic” or “brain booster” supplements.

But here’s the thing. The clinical research on DMAE is actually quite thin, and what exists is mostly disappointing. I’ve gone through the available studies, and I want to be honest about what the evidence actually shows rather than repeating the marketing claims.

What is DMAE?

DMAE is structurally related to choline, which is part of the B vitamin family. The compound occurs naturally in small amounts in the brain and can also be found in fish, particularly sardines and anchovies.

The history of DMAE as a pharmaceutical is worth knowing. In the United States, DMAE was actually sold as a prescription drug called Deanol or Deaner for over 20 years. It was prescribed for learning difficulties and behavioural problems in children. Then, in 1983, the FDA withdrew approval because manufacturers failed to provide adequate evidence that it actually worked. At that point, DMAE shifted to the dietary supplement market, where it remains today [1].

The theoretical mechanism is that DMAE crosses the blood-brain barrier more easily than choline, where it might be converted to acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is indeed important for memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. Whether taking DMAE supplements actually raises brain acetylcholine levels in a meaningful way is less certain.

What does the clinical research actually show?

1. Alzheimer’s disease: disappointing results

Alzheimer’s disease involves progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, and changes in behaviour. Since the disease is associated with reduced cholinergic function (the system that uses acetylcholine), researchers hoped that DMAE might help.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial tested DMAE in 27 patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease over five weeks. The result? DMAE failed to improve clinical symptoms [2].

My honest take: one small negative study isn’t definitive, but combined with the lack of any positive trials, there’s no reason to think DMAE helps with Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association and NHS don’t list DMAE among evidence-based treatments, and for good reason. If you’re looking for supplements that might support cognitive health in older age, there are options with better evidence, though even those have limitations.

2. Huntington’s disease: also negative

Huntington’s disease is a genetic neurodegenerative condition that causes progressive movement disorders, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. One of the characteristic features is chorea, which involves involuntary, jerky movements.

A double-blind crossover trial tested DMAE in nine people with Huntington’s disease. The compound had no effect on the movement symptoms [3].

Again, small study, but the result was clearly negative. There’s no clinical basis for using DMAE in Huntington’s disease.

3. Skin appearance: some topical evidence

This is actually the area where DMAE has the most interesting (though still limited) evidence. When applied directly to the skin as a gel, DMAE appears to have some short-term firming effects.

One study found that a topical 3% DMAE gel increased skin firmness within an hour of application and that the effect accumulated over two weeks of daily use. The researchers proposed that DMAE might work by affecting the contractility of cells in the skin [4].

The catch: this doesn’t mean oral DMAE supplements will improve your skin. The study used a topical preparation applied directly to the face. What happens when you swallow DMAE and expect it to reach your skin at meaningful concentrations is a different question that hasn’t been properly studied.

If you’re interested in skincare, this is one of the few areas where DMAE might have some legitimate use, but only as an ingredient in topical products, not as an oral supplement.

4. Cognitive enhancement in healthy people: no evidence

This is what most people are actually interested in when they buy DMAE supplements. The marketing claims typically centre on improved memory, focus, mental clarity, and general “brain power.”

The problem is that I can’t find any well-designed clinical trials showing that oral DMAE supplements improve cognitive function in healthy adults. The theoretical mechanism (boosting acetylcholine) sounds plausible, but theory doesn’t equal evidence.

One study using EEG measurements suggested that DMAE might alter brain electrical activity in ways that could be interpreted as increased vigilance [5]. But changes on an EEG don’t necessarily translate to actual cognitive benefits that you’d notice in daily life. And this single study, conducted in 1980, used a sample size of just 24 subjects.

My honest assessment: if you’re taking DMAE hoping it will make you sharper or improve your memory, the evidence doesn’t support that expectation. There may be a placebo effect, but there’s no good clinical data showing real cognitive benefits.

What about ADHD?

Given that DMAE was historically prescribed for learning and behavioural problems in children, you might wonder about its potential for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

A few older studies from the 1970s suggested possible benefits, but the methodology was poor by modern standards, and subsequent research hasn’t confirmed these findings. When better alternatives became available, DMAE was abandoned for this use. The NHS and NICE guidelines for ADHD don’t mention DMAE, and mainstream medical organisations don’t recommend it.

Side effects of DMAE

DMAE is probably safe for most people when taken at typical supplement doses in the short term. However, reported side effects include:

Headaches
Drowsiness or insomnia (both have been reported, which suggests individual variation)
Vivid dreams or nightmares
Irritability or mood changes
Muscle tension or twitching
Gastrointestinal upset, including nausea and diarrhoea
Increased blood pressure (in some cases)

One concerning animal study found that DMAE caused neural tube defects in mice embryos [6]. While we can’t directly extrapolate animal studies to humans, this is a red flag for pregnant women. The precautionary principle applies here.

Safety precautions (4 contraindications)

1. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not use DMAE if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. The animal data on neural tube defects is concerning enough that no responsible source would recommend DMAE during pregnancy. We simply don’t have safety data in humans, and the potential risk to fetal development isn’t worth whatever theoretical benefit DMAE might provide.

2. Anticholinergic medications

DMAE may interfere with medications that block acetylcholine. Since DMAE theoretically increases acetylcholine activity, it could work against drugs designed to reduce it.

Anticholinergic medications are used for:

Overactive bladder (oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin)
Parkinson’s disease (benztropine, trihexyphenidyl)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma (tiotropium, ipratropium)
Irritable bowel syndrome (dicyclomine, hyoscyamine)
Nausea and motion sickness (scopolamine)

If you’re taking any anticholinergic medication, discuss DMAE with your doctor before using it.

3. Cholinergic medications

Conversely, combining DMAE with drugs that also increase acetylcholine activity could potentially amplify side effects.

Cholinergic drugs are prescribed for:

Alzheimer’s disease (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine)
Myasthenia gravis (pyridostigmine, neostigmine)
Glaucoma (pilocarpine)
Urinary retention (bethanechol)

The interaction potential hasn’t been well studied, but the theoretical concern is real.

4. Mental health conditions

There are case reports and theoretical concerns about DMAE worsening symptoms in people with:

Depression
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Epilepsy or seizure disorders

A 1976 case report described a woman with bipolar disorder whose depressive symptoms worsened after taking DMAE [7]. The mechanism might involve DMAE’s effects on neurotransmitter systems.

If you have any psychiatric condition, speak with your doctor before taking DMAE.

How DMAE compares to other nootropics

If you’re interested in cognitive enhancement, it’s worth knowing how DMAE stacks up against other commonly marketed nootropics:

Caffeine remains the most reliably effective cognitive enhancer for alertness and focus. Unlike DMAE, hundreds of studies confirm its effects.

Fish oil has some evidence for brain health, particularly DHA’s role in brain structure, though the cognitive enhancement effects in healthy adults are modest.

Ginkgo biloba has been more thoroughly studied than DMAE, though the evidence for cognitive benefits remains mixed.

B vitamins are essential for nervous system function, and deficiencies can impair cognition. Supplementation helps if you’re deficient but probably won’t boost cognition if your levels are already adequate.

Phosphatidylserine has somewhat more clinical evidence than DMAE for age-related cognitive decline, though the research quality varies.

The bottom line

DMAE is a compound with an interesting theoretical basis but weak clinical evidence. Despite being marketed as a nootropic for decades, I couldn’t find convincing data that it actually improves memory, focus, or cognitive function in healthy people.

The only area with positive findings is topical skin application, where DMAE gels may have short-term firming effects. But that’s a cosmetic use, not the brain-boosting claims that drive most DMAE sales.

If you’re currently taking DMAE and feel it helps you, I’m not going to tell you to stop. Placebo effects are real effects in terms of how you feel. But if you’re deciding whether to start taking DMAE based on the available evidence, there’s not much there to support the purchase.

For general brain health, the more conventional advice applies: regular exercise, adequate sleep, social engagement, and a diet rich in vegetables, fish, and whole grains have far more evidence behind them than any nootropic supplement.

References

Malanga G, Aguiar MB, Martinez HD, Puntarulo S. New insights on dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) features as a free radical scavenger. Drug Metab Lett. 2012;6(1):54-59.
Fisman M, Mersky H, Helmes E. Double-blind trial of 2-dimethylaminoethanol in Alzheimer’s disease. Am J Psychiatry. 1981;138(7):970-972.
Crane GE. Deanol in Huntington’s disease. JAMA. 1978;239(11):1008.
Uhoda I, Faska N, Robert C, Cauwenbergh G, Piérard GE. Split face study on the cutaneous tensile effect of 2-dimethylaminoethanol (deanol) gel. Skin Res Technol. 2002;8(3):164-167.
Dimpfel W, Wedekind W, Keplinger I. Efficacy of dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) containing vitamin-mineral drug combination on EEG patterns in the presence of different emotional states. Eur J Med Res. 2003;8(5):183-191.
Fisher MC, Zeisel SH, Mar MH, Sadler TW. Inhibitors of choline uptake and metabolism cause developmental abnormalities in neurulating mouse embryos. Teratology. 2001;64(2):114-122.
Casey DE. Mood alterations during deanol therapy. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1979;62(2):187-191.