Nootropics: Brain boost or snake oil?

We’ve all had days when brain fog hits and we can’t seem to gather the concentration necessary to do our jobs as well as we’d like. We often turn to sugar and caffeine to combat this fuzziness, even though we are warned frequently of the dangers of too much of either. One of the alternative strategies that many people are considering is the use of “nootropics,” which are natural and artificial compounds that improve cognitive function. Many of us already use one or two nootropics: caffeine has been well studied for its role in increasing alertness and concentration, for example, while omega-3 supplements often are recommended for improved brain function. Both of these substances are standard in nootropic mixes. But the difference with serious nootropics users – there are reports of the Silicon Valley set being particularly enamoured with the concept – is that these substances stack a number of compounds together in order to get the best cognitive bang for their buck. Typically, these stacks are made up of various herb and other plant compounds (e.g., caffeine, kava, St. John’s wort), nutrients (magnesium, carnitine) and chemical substances few of us would recognize, such as racetams (some of which fall into a class of stimulants), that are reputed to improve cognitive function although scientific data is often lacking. These stacks are sold in packages from nootropic retailers (and health-food stores), but some adherents to the concept of nootropics prepare their own. Echoing what university students have been doing for years to help them focus on a deadline (calling them “study drugs”), many nootropic users also will throw in one or two prescription medications designed to help people with attention deficit disorder, such as Adderall and Ritalin, in an effort to improve their concentration and executive functioning skills. Even Alzheimer’s […]

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