The brain is one of the most hopeful-sounding areas of shilajit research, and one of the least proven. Most of the work has been done in test tubes and rodents. The one human trial tested a blend, not shilajit on its own.
This article explains what has been studied, what was found and why it isn’t enough to draw conclusions about people.
What is in shilajit?
Shilajit is a dark resin that seeps from rock in high mountains. By weight it is mostly humic substances, chiefly fulvic acid. Most of the rest is minerals, mainly calcium, potassium and magnesium, with traces of iron, zinc and others.
The amounts vary a lot from one sample to the next. No study has measured how much of each mineral a typical daily serving provides. So it isn’t possible to say that shilajit is a meaningful source of any of them.
What has research found about fulvic acid?
The interest comes mainly from a research group in Chile. In laboratory experiments, fulvic acid stopped a protein called tau from forming filaments. It could also break up filaments that had already formed. Tau tangles are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
In 2023 the same team reported that fractions of Andean shilajit made rat brain cells grow longer branches in a dish. These are plausible starting points for research. But test-tube results often fail to carry over to people. Nobody has shown that fulvic acid from shilajit taken by mouth reaches the human brain.
What have animal studies looked at?
A handful of rodent studies have measured effects on brain chemistry or injury:
- In 1997, rats injected with shilajit for seven days showed lower activity of an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a chemical messenger.
- In 2013, rats with head injuries were given shilajit injections. Researchers measured less brain swelling and better neurological scores.
- In 2015, rats and mice given shilajit by mouth for 15 days had fewer chemically or electrically triggered seizures.
Injected doses and induced injuries in rodents are far removed from a person taking a daily supplement. None of these studies looked at memory in healthy animals.
Has shilajit been tested in people?
Only as part of a blend. BrainUp-10 combines Andean shilajit with B vitamins. In a randomised, placebo-controlled trial in Chile, 82 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s took the blend or a placebo. The main measure was apathy, meaning loss of interest and motivation. Apathy scores were lower with the blend at weeks 4 and 12.
The limits are important:
- It was a combination. B vitamins affect the brain in their own right, so the trial can’t show what shilajit contributed.
- The developers ran it. The trial came from the group that created the product. Independent repeats matter.
- It measured apathy, not memory. The memory result was reported against patients’ own starting scores, not directly against placebo.
What about focus and brain fog?
There is no research on this. We are not aware of any human or animal study of shilajit that measured focus, concentration or brain fog. Claims about these are marketing, not science.
What should you do if you’re worried about memory?
See your doctor. Memory problems have many causes, and some are treatable, such as low vitamin B12, thyroid problems, depression or medicine side effects. An early check also opens the door to proper support.
If someone with dementia wants to try shilajit, check with their doctor or pharmacist first. Choose a product tested for heavy metals, since metals such as lead are themselves harmful. You can see the heavy-metal results for our own batch on our lab results page.
For a wider look at the research on shilajit, read shilajit benefits: what the research says, or the detailed review of shilajit and brain health on shilajit.uk. Hilasti’s shilajit is sold as a raw resin; see the shop.
This article is for information only and isn’t medical advice. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, take medication or have a health condition.
