Nootropics

A diverse group of medicinal substances whose actions improves human thinking, learning, & memory, especially in the case where these functions are impaired.¹

There is a lot of buzz around Nootropics lately & for good reason, I believe. They are not without their risks, as there is not a lot of research regarding long-term use for many of the popular picks; much less for the lesser known substances.

Part of the reason why I find this subject interesting is because to make an informed decision, I need to sit down & read pharmacology papers. Not just read them, actually. I need to have a decent understanding of what is being said. Perhaps there is no need to be an expert to get the general gist of what the paper is saying. But I’d argue that one should attempt to be as close as they can. You are possibly putting your life on the line with many of these compounds, so it is necessary to make an informed decision. Those don’t come from jumping into action without taking the time to understand the research.

Footnotes

1. Malík, M., & Tlustoš, P. (2022). Nootropics as Cognitive Enhancers: Types, Dosage and Side Effects of Smart Drugs. Nutrients, 14(16), 3367. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163367 ↩