If you’re a student aiming to pass your tests or a busy professional aiming to get a raise or an elderly person who is concerned about dementia the thought of taking a pill that increases your brainpower could seem quite appealing. It’s perhaps not surprising to learn that the use of nootropics also known as cognitive enhancers or smart drugs is growing. However, do they really actually work? Are they secure?“Nootropics” is a term that was used to describe “nootropics” originally meant chemicals that met the requirements of a specific type. However, it’s now applied to any chemical or natural substance that could improve cognitive abilities. In general, nootropics are classified into three broad groups: dietary supplements or synthetic compounds, as well as medications prescribed by a doctor.Health experts generally agree that using prescription nootropics with an FDA-approved use (such for example, as a stimulant drug in the case of ADHD and donepezil in the case of Alzheimer’s) might be beneficial however, making use of any kind of cognitive enhancer for healthy individuals is more controversial.
What Researchers Say
Barry Gordon, MD, Ph.D., director of the cognitive neurology/neuropsychology division at Johns Hopkins Medicine, says there’s “no strong evidence” that any of the supplements now being sold for their supposed memory-boosting powers are helpful. “It’s unclear whether they’re effective and it’s not sure if they’re safe” Gordon states. He’s also skeptical of the foundational idea behind nootropics.
“The circuits involved within human brain function are extremely complex and are not understood to the fullest extent,” he says. “You cannot simply turn up the dial’ as easily.” He says that those who believe that their mental health is boosted by nootropics are mostly in the grip of a “placebo” effect. “If your confidence is higher and you believe that you’ll be better than others then it’s likely that you will perform better.”
Chris D’Adamo, Ph.D., director of education and research in the university’s Center for Integrative Medicine, offers a different perspective. As Gordon D’Adamo, he does not believe that nootropics can give you the ability to think like a superhero, but he believes they do can give certain individuals an edge.
Most people looking to boost their cognitive function are better off getting sufficient sleep and eating a healthy diet and managing the effects of anxiety,” he says. However, once you’ve got the fundamentals down, the proper nootropics could be an additional benefit that can help you to think more clearly and clearly or reduce the risk of losing your cognitive capacity as you get older, he adds.
Types of Nootropics
Most people use the nootropic regardless of whether they realize it or not, according to D’Adamo. The topic is caffeine as a stimulant, and although it’s certainly not without risks when you take it too much the natural stimulant has been proven to enhance thinking. It’s not just a way to appear more awake, claims D’Adamo. It also gives you access to a variety of chemical substances (neurotransmitters) within the brain including acetylcholine which aids in long-term memory as well as learning.
The majority of people who are looking into nootropics don’t stick with traditional coffee and tea. They’re extending their reach to supplements for dietary use. Certain supplements, like ginkgo and ginseng, haven’t stood up to rigorous scientific scrutiny. However, others, such as L-theanine, CDP-choline theanine, creatine monohydrate Bacopa monnieri Huperzine A, and vinpocetine have some promise.
Racetams, including piracetam, are a different type of nootropic. They are available as chemical compounds on the market within the U.S., but they’re prescribed in some other countries. D’Adamo claims that these compounds are neurotransmitters and act upon them such as acetylcholine, which is being examined in older people who suffer from a decline in their thinking abilities. They aren’t recommended for the majority of younger, healthy individuals.
Prescription nootropics mostly consist of stimulants, such as those found included in some ADHD medication. Although they are beneficial for a lot of people suffering from ADHD however, they’re not suitable to those looking to increase their focus and concentration. A lot of college students use these kinds of drugs illicitly even though they appear to be beneficial in the short term but there are significant risks. Some of the side effects include sleepiness, blurred vision, and high blood pressure. Other side effects include rapid blood flow, heart issues, and addiction.Another kind of nootropic prescription can be found in modafinil ( Provigil). It’s FDA-approved for treating the symptoms of narcolepsy, sleep apnea as well as shift work disorder. However, certain studies suggest it could aid in memory and learning in healthy individuals. Modafinil is believed to be less harmful than other stimulants, but further studies are needed.
Most Promising Options
If you’re thinking of taking nootropics You should go about it with your doctor first. Like any supplement, it is important for your doctor to inform you about any health risks that could arise, such as impacts on any condition that you’re suffering from or the medications that you’re taking.
Remember that even though research has been done that focuses on the subject but they are usually very small or have a limited effect on the elderly. Additionally, every brain’s chemical chemistry is different, and the same thing that works well for one individual may not work for someone else according to D’Adamo. However, the four brain types mentioned above could be promising:Theanine The supplement appears to increase the benefits associated with caffeine and also counteract caffeine-induced anxiety, says D’Adamo. Research has proven that combining caffeine and L-theanine could assist you in multitasking better. The best way to enjoy this combination is to drink pure tea which is a combination of caffeine and L-theanine. However, it’s also ok to combine your normal cup of coffee and tea drink with a supplement of L-theanine.Do not take caffeine in pill or in powder form because it’s easy to get too much of it. In excess, caffeine could be harmful, causing the heart to beat faster and leading to seizures or even death. One teaspoon pure coffee powder can be as high in caffeine as the equivalent of 28 cups. The FDA has cracked down on manufacturers of highly concentrated and pure caffeine-based products, says that the differences between a safe quantity and a dangerous amount is extremely small.
CDP-choline It is often prescribed throughout Europe as a medicine CDP-choline is proven to improve memory — at least for patients suffering from dementia brought on by vascular issues inside the brain. There is no evidence of negative side effects, therefore it’s thought to be safe to take.Creatine monohydrate Commonly found in supplements to build muscles, creatine aids to build muscles. However, studies have found that it could enhance reasoning abilities and short-term memory among healthy individuals. It raises levels of a molecule known as ATP which results in greater energy in cells D’Adamo explains. “I use it frequently to boost my energy. It’s extremely safe.”Bacopa monnieri : A common Indian (ayurvedic) plant, Bacopa monnieri is also known as brahmiis believed by some to aid in the brain process information more quickly. It triggers the nerve cells’ branches (dendrites) to expand according to D’Adamo. The process takes time, so expect to wait between 4-6 weeks for results.Source: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/nootropics-smart-drugs-overview
