Does choline help with poor memory?
Yes — but only in one form. Citicoline (CDP-Choline) is the one that was tested, and the others sold for this do not carry the same evidence.
Form by form
Strongest first. Evidence for one salt or ester is not evidence for another, so each is rated on its own trials.
Trials used 250–500 mg · 2 studies · tested as citicoline (Cognizin) 500 mg/day (2x250mg) for 12 weeks in healthy older adults (50-85y) with age-associated memory impairment; also 250-500 mg/day for 28 days in healthy women 40-60
Trials used 600–1200 mg · 3 studies · tested as 600 mg/day for 12 weeks in mild cognitive impairment; 1,200 mg/day for 180 days in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's dementia
Trials used 2000–2500 mg · 1 study · tested as single acute dose of 2.0-2.5 g choline bitartrate, memory tests given 60-120 minutes later, in healthy young university students
No dose recorded · 1 study · tested as lecithin/phosphatidylcholine supplementation, doses and durations varied across 12 pooled trials, mostly in people already diagnosed with dementia or memory complaints