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Nootropics - The New Smart Drugs For Boosting Cognition

Nootropics - The New Smart Drugs For Boosting Cognition

Taya Bregant
Nutrition

Substances known as “nootropics” have for some time been emerging in popularity among the nutrition world, so I wanted to see what the buzz was all about. Scientists are claiming that these substances have the ability to enhance our mental cognition, memory retention as well as create deeper focus and flow. Nowadays you can find a variety of these nootropics, either prescription or simply from food sources, so I wanted to look fore mostly into our current understanding of how these substances work, how they impact our mental abilities as well as what are currently the best nootropics you can get your hands on if you are interested in trying them.

New things are consistently being discovered so it is important to be careful of their potential side effects or any precautions you should be aware about as with any other medication or supplement.

If you are interested to learn more about nootropics, read onwards

WHAT ARE NOOTROPICS?

First of all, let’s clarify what these substances actually are.

In the past, nootropics referred to chemicals which had to adhere to very specific criteria but nowadays nootropics are defined as any natural or synthetic substance that can have a positive or enhancing effect on out mental abilities. In this way, these “smart drugs” have a stimulating effect on our brain and have also been shown to counteract the symptoms of a variety of medical conditions such as ADHD, narcolepsy or Alzheimers disease.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

There is a large variety of nootropics out there, and because they are all biochemically different from each other, they also have different mechanisms of working in our body so it is hard to generalize about how nootropics bring about these brain enhancing abilities.

One study for example proposed that most nootropics act as vasodilators, meaning that they relax our blood vessels, causing more blood flow for delivering valuable oxygen and nutrients to those areas, allowing us to think clearer.

Other studies pointed that much more research is needed to establish the consensus that nootropics work for everyone and that they are also safe for everyone, however studies have confirmed that nootropics such as omega 3 fatty acids and caffeine can indeed have mentally stimulating effects helping with memory and short term focusing.

If you are new to nootropics, most dietitians would recommend to start with food based nootropics such as those from coffee and fatty fish, however making sure you are getting adequate levels of sleep, movement and proper nutrition into your day is just as critical for keeping good mental health.

If you are further interested about how to naturally enhance your brains health, I have previously written about it here

TYPES OF NOOTROPICS


Nowadays you can find a lot of different types of nootropics, which can either be synthetic or non synthetic and can be available either in prescription form or over the counter.

Below I wanted to take a look at the 3 most common types of nootropics: Prescription, Synthetic and Dietary.

Prescription Nootropics


These kinds of nootropics are medications which are designed to be able to treat certain mental or medical conditions, such as dementia or ADHD for example. Some common examples of prescription nootropics are:

  • Memantine: This medication is mostly prescribed to reduce the sytmpotms of Alzheimers disease.

  • Adderall: Adderal is a trade name and is otherwise a combination drug termed as “mixed amphetamine salts” and contains 4 different salts of amphetamine. Adderal tends to be prescribed to people who need help with managing ADHD symptoms.

  • Provigil (modafinil): This drug acts as a stimulant on our nervous system and is prescribed for treating conditions such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea and shift work sleep disorder.

  • Ritalin (methylphenidate): This too has a stimulating effect for our central nervous system and is commonly prescribed for people who have ADHD and sometimes prescribed for treating narcolepsy.


Synthetic Nootropics

A lot of synthetic nootropics belong to a group of drugs named racetams which is a class of drugs that all share a specific similar chemical structures.

Some of the most common racetams include:

  • Aniracetam

  • Piracetam

  • Oxiracetam

  • Phenylpiracetam

  • Pramiracetam

Some studies have indicated a positive association between racetams and neuroprotective effects however more studies are needed to produce more consistent evidence in order to potentially make racetams useful medications for dementia or cognitive impairments.

Dietary Nootropics

CAFFEINE

  • Without realizing it, many people already consume nootropics in the form of caffeine that is found in coffee. Caffeine is the most commonly and widely consumed substance in the world.

  • I have previously written about the effects of caffeine on our body and mind HERE. Studies on caffeine have demonstrate that a non excessive caffeine intake (not more than 4-5 cups of coffee per day) can yield the following positive benefits:

    • Increased attention.

    • Boosting mental focus.

    • Increased energy levels.

  • Of course consuming more caffeine per day than recommended, (more than 400mg per day), will likely lead to unwanted effects such as inability to fall asleep, jitteriness, nausea or nervousness.

CREATINE

  • Creatine is an amino acid which acts as a building block for making up proteins in our body, where this amino cid is especially popular among athletes due to being able to improve athletic performance. Apart from boosting athletic performance, creatine has been shown to be beneficial for:

    • Positively impacts our short term memory.

    • Increases our reasoning abilities.

    • Helps muscles to recover faster after exercise.

    • Increases muscle mass.

    • Reduces muscle cramping.

  • Although more research is needed to test creatine’s impacts on our brain functioning, there is good evidence to show that it can be beneficial for athletes.


GINKO BILOBA

  • Ginko biloba is a species of gymnosperms that is native to China, where its leaves are commonly sold are supplements for claiming to have positive effects on our mental abilities.

  • Some of the common reasons for why people take this supplement is:

    • Enhances our mental cognition.

    • Improves clarity of thinking and fights brain fog.

    • Improves symptoms of dementia.

  • Just like with other dietary nootropics, effects of ginkgo biloba need to be further studied to establish any long term connections however it has been proven to be safe for our consumption.

L-THEANINE

  • L-theanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that's found in the leave of green or black teas and is nowadays commonly sold in supplement form.

  • Studies conduced on L-theanine supplements showed that L-theanine could:

    • Boost alertness and cognitive performance.

    • Could possibly increase alpha brain waves which contribute to a relaxed yet alert state of mind.

    • Works well when paired with caffeine to boost cognitive performance and alertness.


OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS

  • Nowadays you hear a lot of talk about omega 3 fatty acids and I have previously talked about them in this blog post.

  • These fatty acids have been found to have beneficial effects on your brain health while helping to building the membranes of your bodies cells along side insulating your neurons for faster neural conduction.

  • Some other studies have indicated that omega 3’s are able to slow down mental decline among elderly people due to having neuro-protective properties and being able to repair and renewer brain cells.

  • Omega 3’s are considered essential fatty acids meaning that we have to obtain them through our diet, such as with fatty fish like salmon, sardines and cod or through fish oil supplements.


PANAX GINSENG

  • This is a shrub which is native to China and parts of Siberia where its roots have been for a long time used for its potent medicinal purposes. Researchers behind some studies on human trials have shown convincing evidence that Panax ginseng can reduce the risk of certain brain diseases including Alzheimers and Parkinson's

  • Apart from Alzheimers and Parkinson's, Panax ginseng could also potentially help with Huntington's disease as well as the recovery of our brains after a stroke.

  • This nootropic and supplement can negatively interact with any medication we may be taking so its best to check with your doctor before use.


RHODIOLA

  • Rhodiola is a plant which is native to parts of Europe and Asia and has been for centuries used as a herbal treatment for fatigue, anxiety and stress. Its function as a nootropic is also to improve our memory, learning and brain function.

  • Some studies have indicated that rhodiola could have potent neuro-protective properties and may also help with treating neurodegenerative diseases.

  • Furthermore, this nootropic may also help with regulating the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain and contribute to better mental wellbeing and a happier overall mood.

  • The capsules for rhodiola supplements vary in strength, but for most people taking 1-2 capsules per day is the recommended dose.

EFFECTS OF NOOTROPICS


Better Memory Retention And Learning Abilities

  • Research has discovered that the first synthetic nootropic to have been developed (piracetam) can greatly improve our working memory. Additionally, the amino acid creatine also has the ability to positively influence short term memory.

  • Similar results were also noted with the drug Provigil (modafinil) which enhanced long term learning abilities.


Boost Creativity

  • The well known nootropic L-theanine has been shown to increase alpha waves in our brain where greater alpha wave activity is associated with increased creativity and a state of calmness. Further studies have found, that the effects that L-theanine are most potent when combined with caffeine.


Improved attention, Concentration And Motivation

  • As mentioned previously, certain nootropics are also used for calming and centering our concentration and attention, which makes them useful for people who may struggled with ADHD.

THE MOST PROMISING NOOTROPICS SO FAR


CDP - Choline:

  • This is a naturally occurring substance in our tissues and cells where it plays a vital role in ensuring healthy cell membranes.

  • Most commonly, this substance is prescribed as a drug and as been shown to help boost memory, especially among people who have dementias that are caused by vascular issues within the brain. Currently, there are no major known side effects of using this nootropic so it is considered safe to be used by most people.


L - Theanine:

  • L-Thenine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is found in green tea and some types of mushroom species, where it most commonly is found in 2 different biochemical forms: L-theanine and D-theanine, where L-theanine is the more common one.

  • In its function, the amino acid theanine is similar to glutamate, which is another amino cid that helps to transmit nerve impulses in the brain. Sometimes theanine works similarly to glutamate, but other times it seems to block the effects of glutamate.

  • Other studies have shown that when paired with caffeine, L-theanine specifically can enhance the effects of caffeine thus helping us focus for longer while counteracting the anxiety and jitteriness of coffee.

  • Green tea like matcha has been shown to contain both L-theanine and caffeine together which may help you multitask, while taking L-theanine supplement together with coffee also has similar effects. If you want to learn more about the L-theanine powerhouse of matcha, you can find the blog post here


Creatine monohydrate:

  • This type of creatine is often found within muscle building supplements and contributes to building new muscle mass. Other studies have also shown that it improves our reasoning skills and short term memory among healthy people.

  • Furthermore, creatine helps your muscles with generating more energy so it can also boost your energy through the day or during exercise.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVICE FOR USE


If you are interested into venturing into the world of nootropics and trying out some for yourself, keep the following pieces of advice in mind:

  • Before use, always consult with your doctor or a medical professional since some of these substance can negatively interact with any other medication you may be currently taking.

  • Some brands of nootropics may not be truly transparent in terms of what is in their products so always make sure you know what you are consuming. Because of this, try looking for reputable companies which undergo independent testing to be ensure the best choice for you.

  • If you have a certain medical condition, discuss how taking nootropics may affect your mental state and wether it is safe for you to use them and in what dosages.

  • Make sure to only consume the dosage that your doctor has recommended for you or the dosage that is recommended on the back of a product, as otherwise it might lead to unwanted side effects.

  • Whenever taking any sort of chemical substance, there is a high likelihood of some unwanted side effects to be present so always do your research before consuming something and find out what the possible side effects are.

  • Overall, while nootropics may genuinely enhance your mental capabilities and cognition, more research is needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of their use as well as the long term effects of using nootropics.

🔑 KEY IDEAS

In todays blog post we are looking at the newly emerging topic of nootropics and how these so called “smart” drugs can help us enhance our mental capabilities, alongside exploring what are the best natural and synthetic nootropics out here and wether they are really safe for use.

✏️ REFERENCES

How To Work More Effectively & Efficiently

How To Work More Effectively & Efficiently
Your Guide To Intuitive Eating

Your Guide To Intuitive Eating

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