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"Smart drugs?" What are nootropics?

A look into getting the most out of your brain functions

Written by Shani Kaplan

So, what are nootropics? Good question! Although I had heard them mentioned a few times in the last year or so, I did not know much about them before diving into the research. The origin of the word comes from Greek- nous (mind) and tropein (to bend or turn). A 2019 Market report found that the brain health supplement market is growing rapidly at a rate of 8% per year.[1] So where does nootropics fit into this? Well, they are regularly referred to as “smart drugs.”

Their aim is to enhance your brain’s functions in ways like to improve your memory, creativity and focus through protecting your brain’s neurons that get damaged by ageing and toxins.

A few well-known nootropics fall under prescription drugs, but there are also many natural/ supplement products you may be surprised to know are considered nootropics.

Let’s look at some of these classes:

PRESCRIPTION

These drugs have been widely- studied and used for years now:

Adderall

you most likely would have heard of Adderall; the drug that treats ADHD and narcolepsy which contains amphetamines salts. It treats these conditions by keeping consumers awake, attentive and also more optimistic.

Ritalin

with slightly less side effects and addictive tendencies, this is another one you have probably heard of which also treats ADHD, and narcolepsy but also orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The active ingredient is methylphenidate. It is similarly used to control wakefulness, impulses and attention spans.

Modafinil (Provigil)

This drug is used for wakefulness for people with chronic sleeping problems like narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. It has been reported that some people, however (like biohacker we spoke about in our recent blog- Dave Asprey) have been using it for non-sleep-related purposes and claiming it has helped them with functions such as alertness and energy.

SUPPLEMENTS/ NATURAL

Omega 3 fatty acids

These are polyunsaturated fats that are found in high amounts in seafood, like mackerel, salmon, and herring, or in supplement form- most popularly sold as fish oil tablets. This type of fat is crucial for the health of your brain and to protect the brain from ageing.[2][3]

Caffeine

This is the most commonly used nootropic of all. Caffeine- coffees and teas are stimulants and used in moderation can help improve your reaction time, alertness, memory and mood. [7]

L-theanine

An amino acid that is usually found in the leaves of black and green teas. People have been opting for l-theanine supplements. When paired with caffeine it has been shown to help promote focus and brain function [4]

Rhodiola

This is a herb that grows in the mountains of Europe and Asia. One scientific review concluded that Rhodiola rosea L improved learning and memory function. [5]

Creatine

Another amino acid, and a building block of protein. You may have seen it advertised for athletes and performance, but it may also have some brain effects as well. There has been a study for instance that showed it helps with short term memory and reasoning [6]

Omega 3 fatty acids

Caffeine

This is the most commonly used nootropic of all. Caffeine- coffees and teas are stimulants and used in moderation can help improve your reaction time, alertness, memory and mood. [7]

L-theanine

Rhodiola

This is a herb that grows in the mountains of Europe and Asia. One scientific review concluded that Rhodiola rosea L improved learning and memory function. [5]

Creatine

WHO IS USING THEM?

Like our recent blog about biohacking, it has been reported that Silicon Valley are also at the forefront of this hack, and it has made its way over to Wall Street too; with bankers and lawyers said to be experimenting with ways to improve their cognitive functions for their extensive work hours.

SO, DO THEY WORK?

It is certainly an area that needs additional controlled studies to be considered safe- and this can take a lot of time. With some of the above; such as caffeine and omega-3 fatty acids already conclusive in aiding brain function, some of the others need more research. So, in light of this- proceed with caution! As always, if you’re not sure, be sure to speak to your doctor first.

Shani Kaplan

Shani Kaplan is a contributing writer for Truth Origins. She combines her knowledge gained from working within the fitness/wellness industry in Sydney and London for the last seven years as a Personal Trainer, and class instructor, with her addiction to research due to her BA in Business Marketing. Shani loves martial arts, resistance training, dance and yoga, nutrition, travel, design, photography, and art.

Stay posted for next week's blog. Our last blog of 2019🕺

References

[1] Grandviewresearch.com. (2019). Brain Health Supplements Market Size | Industry Report, 2019-2025. [online] Available at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/brain-health-supplements-market?utm_source=prnewswire.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=PRN_Jun19_brainhealthsupplements_CG_RD1&utm_content=Content [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].

[2]Denis I, Potier B, Heberden C, Vancassel S.Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. (2015). Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and brain aging.. [online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25501348 [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].

[3] Håvard Bentsen (2017) Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, brain function and mental health,Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease, 28:sup1, DOI: 10.1080/16512235.2017.1281916Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16512235.2017.1281916?scroll=top&needAccess=true [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].

[4] Adhikary, R. and Mandal, V. (2017). l-theanine: A potential multifaceted natural bioactive amide as health supplement. [online] Science Direct. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169117308420 [Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].

[5]Ma, G. P., Zheng, Q., Xu, M. B., Zhou, X. L., Lu, L., Li, Z. X., & Zheng, G. Q. (2018). Rhodiola rosea L. Improves Learning and Memory Function: Preclinical Evidence and Possible Mechanisms. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 1415. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.01415. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6288277/.[Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].

[6] Avgerinos, K. I., Spyrou, N., Bougioukas, K. I., & Kapogiannis, D. (2018). Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Experimental gerontology, 108, 166–173. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2018.04.013 Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6093191/.[Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].

[7] Ruxton, C.H.S. (2008), The impact of caffeine on mood, cognitive function, performance and hydration: a review of benefits and risks. Nutrition Bulletin, 33: 15-25. doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2007.00665.xAvailable at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2007.00665.x.[Accessed 10 Dec. 2019].