As societies age, digitise, and grapple with the pressures of modern life, cognitive function, emotional resilience, and mental clarity are becoming essential to wellbeing at every life stage.

Today’s consumers are no longer waiting for cognitive decline to act. From infancy to later life, people are proactively seeking nutritional solutions that support their brains in staying sharper, happier, and more resilient.

And the market is responding. In the past decade, patent filings related to brain and mental health have more than doubled¹, signalling a surge in innovation and consumer demand, particularly in functional foods and beverages.  

At Nutiani, we believe that brain health is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a continuum shaped by the evolving biological and psychological needs of individuals as they grow and age. Here's how brain health priorities evolve across the ages, and where targeted nutrition fits in.

Infants and Toddlers

The early years are critical for brain growth. In fact, the brain undergoes its most rapid development in the first two to three years of life, and nutrition is critical to support optimal brain development and cognitive outcomes².  

Breast milk is a gold standard, rich in essential lipids that contribute significantly to infant development, particularly the lipids found in the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). To replicate these benefits, infant formulas are increasingly being fortified with ingredients that mimic the cognitive-supportive properties of human milk.  
 
That’s where Nutiani Phospholipids come in. Naturally derived from cow’s milk, Nutiani Phosholipids has the closest phospholipid profile to human milk³,making them uniquely suited to support this critical window of brain development.

Yet, delivering optimal cognitive outcomes isn’t about one ingredient alone. Products that pair MFGM with DHA-rich ingredients and cognitive-supporting nutrients such as iron, iodine, and zinc can effectively meet both parent expectations and regulatory standards, offering a holistic approach to early brain development. 

Children

Even as children transition from infant formula to everyday milk products, the demand for brain-supporting nutrition remains strong. Globally, about 50% of formula or growing-up milk launches contain DHA omega-3⁴. Parents continue to seek fortified milk options with familiar, trusted nutrients like DHA omega-3 to help support focus, memory, and school performance. 
 
As the first generation raised entirely in the digital age, Gen Alpha children are increasingly exposed to screens which can impact mental wellbeing by elevating stress and anxiety and contributing to sleep disturbances. This growing digital engagement creates an urgent need for cognitive health solutions that go beyond learning support and address emotional and behavioural resilience.

There is a clear opportunity to create products tailored to Gen Alpha that alleviate screen-related stress and support better sleep. While innovation in the sleep management space has traditionally focused on teas and herbal remedies, science-backed nutritional and meal replacement beverages featuring ingredients like phospholipids are gaining traction for their ability to support stress regulation and cognitive balance in everyday routines. 
 

Teenagers

As children become teens, academic pressure, hormonal changes, and increased digital distractions create a new set of cognitive challenges.

In China, concern around cognitive issues like poor memory and distraction is rising⁵, with more than 60% of parents seeking supplements that promote brain development for their teenage children⁶. This signals a growing market for solutions that can support mental performance and stress regulation.  

With formats like functional beverages, bars, or gummies, brands have the opportunity to engage this demographic with products that support learning, balance mood, and promote better sleep during high-pressure years.

Adults

In adulthood, brain health becomes less about academic performance and more about sustaining mental energy, emotional balance, and long-term cognitive resilience. Post pandemic, 83% of global consumers are more focused on mental health than ever before, particularly in managing stress, mood, and overall emotional well-being. Additionally, 72% of adults are placing brain health at the top of their list of health priorities⁷. 

Clinical studies have shown that boosting the concentration of phospholipids in the body improves memory performance, especially for people with high levels of stress⁸. This makes phospholipids a powerful tool in the formulation of functional foods, supplements, and beverages for adults looking to stay sharp, calm, and in control, whether in the boardroom or in everyday life.

Middle-Aged and Elderly

With increasing life expectancy, the population of those aged 65 and above is expected to grow from one in 11 in 2019 to one in six by 2030⁹, healthy ageing is no longer a niche, it’s a global imperative. As societies continue to age, over-55s will be encouraged by both companies and governments to delay retirement, and thus preserving memory and mental agility becomes increasingly important.

Yet, age-related decline in brain lipids, especially phospholipids, is inevitable. Research indicates that healthy elderly individuals may experience a loss of 10-20% of phospholipids by the age of 80-90¹⁰. However, the supplementation of milk fat globule membrane has been shown to offer a promising solution to address this decline.

Nutiani Phospholipids offer a promising nutritional solution to address this decline. With formats designed to suit senior lifestyles like powders, soft gels, and fortified dairy—brands can meet the needs of older consumers looking to maintain their independence and mental clarity.

Notably, 45% of U.S. consumers over the age of 55 say they haven’t tried cognition-enhancing drinks but would be interested in doing so¹¹, highlighting untapped white space for brain-focused innovation.

Nutiani Phospholipids  

Nutiani Phospholipids are clinically studied bioactive lipids that support multiple aspects of brain function, across all life stages:

• Focus: Supports sustained attention and mental clarity in both children and adults
• Cognitive Development: Promotes healthy cognitive and language development in infants, and behavioural regulation in children
• Social Development: May reduce social anxiety and foster social confidence in young children
• Mood: Helps regulate emotional responses during periods of stress or challenge
• Stress Resilience: Aids in stress coping and mental balance in demanding environments
• Memory: Helps protect and enhance working memory under stress and age-related decline

Each of these benefits is underpinned by a strong foundation of clinical trials and exclusive health claims, giving our partners a clear path to innovation, differentiation, and consumer trust.  

Brain health is personal, lifelong, and increasingly top-of-mind. With Nutiani Phospholipids, you can lead the next wave of science-backed cognitive solutions, designed for every age and stage of life.