Research

It’s blue. It’s everywhere online. And it’s being talked about as the next big thing for brain health.

We’re talking about methylene blue — a synthetic dye with a long medical history that’s now showing up in wellness circles as a brain-enhancing supplement. Touted for sharpening focus, boosting memory, and clearing brain fog, methylene blue has caught the attention of health influencers and biohackers alike. But does the science actually back it?

Let’s unpack what this compound is, how it works, and what the evidence says — and doesn’t say — about its cognitive claims.

A Dye With Medical Roots

Methylene blue isn’t new. It was first created in 1876 as a textile dye. Its bright, vivid colour made it ideal for staining tissues under the microscope — and by the late 1800s, it was being tested as an anti-malarial drug.

Its superpower lies in its chemistry. Methylene blue can swap electrons with other molecules, like a mini battery. That makes it useful in medicine — especially for treating