Cognition & neuromodulation

Targeted neuropharmacology, electrical / ultrasonic / acoustic cortical stimulation, and engineered neuroplasticity. The 2026 doc treats this as a distinct optimisation pillar alongside longevity, regenerative aesthetics, and metabolic reprogramming.

Currently the only entry in the regimen: methylene blue (see Supplements for dose & contraindications).

Methylene blue protocol

Methylene blue (MB) functions as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain — bypasses Complex I + III and donates electrons directly to cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV). This enhances ATP production and oxygen consumption in cerebral tissue: less "brain fog", faster short-term memory consolidation.

Dose

The dose-response is strictly biphasic (hormetic): low doses enhance mitochondrial respiration, high doses become pro-oxidant and impair it.

Use	Range
Starting (tolerance assessment)	10–15 mg (e.g. NeuroPro Plus capsules)
Cognitive / anti-aging maintenance	0.5–2.0 mg per kg body weight, once daily
Worked example (70 kg)	35–140 mg / day, with 1% USP solution = 10 mg/mL → 3.5–14 mL

Stay near the bottom of the range. It is much easier to overshoot than to under-dose, and overshooting flips the molecule from electron carrier to pro-oxidant.

Contraindications (hard)

Conflict	Why it's lethal-class
SSRIs / SNRIs / MAOIs (or other serotonergic drugs)	MB is itself a potent MAOI → serotonin syndrome.
G6PD deficiency	Triggers severe acute hemolytic anemia.

Confirm both before any dose.

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)

tDCS — transcranial direct current stimulation

Weak constant current (1.5–2.0 mA) modulates neuronal resting membrane potentials. For cognitive enhancement, accelerated learning, and vigilance, the standard montage places the anode over the left DLPFC, cathode over the contralateral supraorbital region.

Protocol:

• 1.5–2.0 mA intensity, 20–30 min per session.
• 3–5 sessions per week, 4–6 weeks per cycle.
• Pair the stimulation synchronously with a complex cognitive task — adaptive coupling is what drives the neuroplasticity outcome, not the current alone.

Hardware: DC-STIMULATOR MOBILE (neurocare) — clinical-grade, home-usable.

TUS — transcranial ultrasound stimulation

Low-intensity focused ultrasound. Significantly higher spatial resolution and deeper penetration than tDCS or TMS. Can target structures 25–125 mm deep.

Hardware: NeuroFUS PRO (Brainbox) — multi-channel annular array transducer for steered acoustic energy. Research-tier; not consumer.

EEG neurofeedback

Multi-channel EEG (sometimes paired with fNIRS) lets the user consciously alter brainwave states with real-time feedback. The 2026 high-performance target: train alpha-band activity, specifically the Mu rhythm — facilitates cognitive resource allocation, pain tolerance, deep flow states.

Device	Notes
Muse S Athena	Alpha / Mu training, meditation feedback.
Sens.ai	EEG + photobiomodulation (NIR) headset — multi-modal brain training.
Neurosity Crown	EEG headset — neurofeedback + focus training.
Myndlift	EEG + app — home neurofeedback, clinician-backed.

VR for cognitive training

Immersive environments force spatial + working memory adaptation. Active engagement of the bilateral hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and DLPFC. Clinical studies show improvements in neuroplasticity, visual brain-network functional connectivity, and total memory composite scores (RCFT copy task).

Acoustic neuromodulation

Targets the perpetual-high-beta brainwave pattern of chronic cognitive fatigue. Sub-audible entrainment frequencies, often masked within ambient sound, guide the brain into deeper alpha / theta states.

Product	Notes
The Genius Song	fMRI-backed brainwave entrainment / acoustic neuromodulation product.

Psychedelics & neuroplastogens

Psilocybin and LSD are increasingly classified not as classical hallucinogens but as neuroplastogens — they catalyse rapid growth of new dendritic spines and dismantle rigid cognitive patterns. Early evidence shows weeks-long systemic anti-inflammatory effects post-administration.

Microdosing = 5–10% of a perceptual dose. A 2025 RAND study estimated >10 million US adults engaged with psychedelics, vast majority via microdose protocols.

UK legal status (2026): psilocybin + LSD remain Schedule 1 under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Restricted to licensed researchers. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has formally recommended easing restrictions to accelerate clinical research — likely policy shift but not present-day legal access.

Gaps & open items

• No NIBS hardware. tDCS (DC-STIMULATOR MOBILE) is the lowest-friction entry point. Pairs naturally with methylene blue — both target mitochondrial / cortical metabolism.
• No EEG neurofeedback. Muse S Athena is the consumer-grade default; Myndlift if a clinician-led protocol is preferred.
• No formal cognitive-training pairing with current MB use. The MB dose-response benefits are amplified by simultaneous cognitive demand (the same synchronicity principle as tDCS).
• Psychedelics: no legal UK route; deferred.