Nootropics, also known as "smart drugs" or "cognitive enhancers," are substances that claim to improve cognitive function and brain performance. They are a diverse group of medicinal substances that improve human thinking, learning, memory, and creativity. Nootropics can be natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic molecules that enhance cognitive functions such as executive functions, attention, memory, and creativity. The term "nootropics" was first used by Cornelius E. Giurgea in 1972/1973 to describe substances that primarily activate cognitive functions, such as memory and learning, especially in situations where these functions are impaired.
Nootropics can be classified into three general categories: dietary supplements, synthetic compounds, and prescription drugs. Some nootropics are pharmaceutical drugs that are designed to treat conditions such as sleepiness or narcolepsy, and to improve attention and focus in people with attention disorders. However, some healthy people use these drugs in an attempt to improve their cognitive performance.
The long-term effects of nootropics on healthy individuals are still unknown. While nootropics may help mask fatigue, procrastination, or boredom, they do not make people more intelligent, and their effects only last as long as the drug remains in the body. Claims that nootropics improve a healthy persons cognitive processes and performance are weak, whereas the side effects do pose health risks.
Some examples of nootropics include caffeine, L-Theanine, creatine, Bacopa Monnieri, Rhodiola Rosea, Panax, and Noopept. However, the research on their effectiveness in healthy adults is lacking.
In conclusion, nootropics are substances that claim to improve cognitive function and brain performance. They are a diverse group of medicinal substances that improve human thinking, learning, memory, and creativity. While some nootropics are pharmaceutical drugs that are designed to treat conditions such as sleepiness or narcolepsy, and to improve attention and focus in people with attention disorders, some healthy people use these drugs in an attempt to improve their cognitive performance. However, the long-term effects of nootropics on healthy individuals are still unknown, and their effectiveness in healthy adults is lacking.
