Here is what the viral ‘limitless pill’ currently being promoted on the internet is said to impact your brain.
Anyone who's taken a scroll through the health and wellness corner of the internet in the past few weeks will have likely noticed people raving about a new supplement which they claim is responsible for benefits such as boosting brain power, eliminating brain fog and improving our memory.
No, we're not referring to a new type of superfood or multi-vitamin, we're talking about a substance known as methylene blue.
Which to be honest, is something which likely sounds very appealing at 9am on a Monday morning when you're furiously gulping down the last dregs of your coffee.
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But how accurate are these vague 'brain boosting' qualities which methylene blue users claim it has – and how safe is it actually?
What is methylene blue?
Methylene blue was originally discovered back in the 19th century and used as a textile dye, as well as disinfecting fish and diagnostic staining during biology research.
The substance was later revealed to have certain medical uses, such as treating a blood disorder known as methemoglobinemia, which is when red blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen. It has also been used in the treatment of malaria and even as an antidote to cyanide poisoning.
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Wellness circles are now claiming the drug is a 'nootropic' - something which enhances cognitive function - which can slow down aging, enhance memory, improve mood and even prevent cancer – none of which appear to have been proven scientifically.
Celebrities that have endorsed methylene blue
Alongside wellness influencers, methylene blue has also gained several celebrity endorsements.
Among them is biohacker Bryan Johnson, the guy who spends $2 million a year to reverse aging and compares erections with his son, revealed on X that he had begun to take methylene blue back in March.
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Mel Gibson also revealed on an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast a friend of his had used the methylene blue to allegedly cure stage four cancer.
"Methylene blue... It was a textile dye. Now they find it has profound effects on your mitochondria," Rogan said after the anecdote, to which Gibson replied: "This stuff works, man."
US Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr was even seen putting what appeared to be methylene blue in his drink mid-flight (via The Independent).
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However, he was never publicly spoken about using the substance.
What we know about how methylene blue affects the brain
According to one health expert who discussed the topic with Science Direct, methylene blue is able to cross the protective tissue which surrounds the brain and penetrate the organ.
Researchers also believe the dye may also have a positive impact on our mitochondria, something which is referred to as the 'powerhouse' of our cells.
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However, it's important to note that most studies regarding the impact of methylene blue on the brain have been conducted on rodents, meaning there's little evidence of benefits for humans.
There are also numerous risks to taking methylene blue, with neuroscientist Anne-Sophie Fluri telling MailOnline: “Without solid evidence in humans, these claims are at best speculative and at worst potentially dangerous.
"The brain is not a machine you can casually 'optimise' like a smartphone."
Taking too high a dose of methylene blue and you find yourself at risk of developing conditions such as serotonin syndrome – something which Johnson directly acknowledged when revealing he was using the substance.
Brenna Cooper