Nootropics

Nootropics are a broad group of supplements taken to create some measurable effect on brain function, primarily cognition, alertness, focus/concentration, mood and memory, in healthy individuals (as opposed to, for example, SSRI’s used by those with depression).

There are a huge range of different products used and the full extent of these is beyond the scope of this course. We will briefly cover the important subgroups below, and encourage you to heavily research anything you are considering taking for this purpose as, broadly speaking, human research is exceedingly thin.

Racetams

Racetams (RA-seh-tams) including piracetam and others are drugs used to alter brain function. They impact numerous neural synapses including those with GABA, Glutamate and cholinergic receptors and are promoted to improve cognition, creativity and focus. As yet there is very little evidence that they do any of this in individuals who don’t have cognitive impairments.

Stimulants

Many stimulants can have some amount of impact on cognitive function in therapeutic doses. These include:

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin): This improves concentration, planning, reaction time and focus, especially in those with ADHD but also in the general population
• Eugeroics (Modafinil): This is often prescribed for those with sleep disorders as it can improve numerous cognitive markers in those with sleep deprivation, but in healthy volunteers it has also been shown to improve reaction time, logical reasoning and problem solving 
• Amphetamines: These can increase alertness, and at low doses can improve memory consolidation
• Caffeine: This has already been discussed above, but needless to say it can increase your ability to complete mental tasks
• Nicotine: Nicotine (from smoking or other sources) can improve fine motor skills, orienting attention and working memory

Needless to say, most of these products can have side effects and many stimulants are potentially addictive. To reiterate, always thoroughly research any product you are considering, potentially speaking to your GP before initiating use.