Getty Images If you’ve ever put in long hours studying for final exams or perfecting a presentation for a client, you’ve probably found yourself wishing for an extra jolt of brain power. Nootropics are often touted as a way to help with that. Nicknamed “brain boosters” or “smart drugs,” they’re typically substances that purport to improve brain performance.
This cognitive boost is meant to be above our normal baseline, explains Dr. Scott Small , professor of neurology and Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University. Different parts of the brain govern different cognitive abilities, such as memory, abstract reasoning, decision making, and speed of processing. Nootropics are intended to target these areas, he tells Fortune .
“So in theory, if you wanted to improve memory above baseline, you would have a nootropic that improves the function of that area, somehow cranking up its functional capabilities,” adds Small, author of “ Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering .”
But just how well do nootropics actually work? What are nootropics?
Nootropics fall into three different classes of drugs: eugeroics like Modafin and Nuvigil meant to promote alertness, stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall prescribed to those with ADHD, and dietary supplements. Because the first two classes of drugs are prescription-based, they are only formulated for—and should be used by—certain individuals.
But anyone can try a natural nootropic supplement, which can include one or a combination of several ingredients. They have the potential to reduce anxiety, enhance your mood, increase productivity, heighten your energy, improve your memory, and sharpen your focus. Some of the most common ingredients include: Lion’s mane
Rhodiola rosea
Ginkgo biloba
Ashwagandha Panax ginseng Alpha GPC Caffeine Citicoline Phosphatidylserine Huperzine A L-theanine Bacopa monnieri You don’t always need to tap into the $9.2 billion brain health supplement market to get your fill of these. You can easily get a dose of caffeine with a cup of joe or drink some L-theanine, an amino acid known for boosting alertness, with a cup of green or black tea.But you may […]
Do nootropics really boost focus and memory?Experts weigh in on ‘smart drugs’
