Residual Victory Blog

Nootropics are a relative new class of drugs, often equated with “brain food.”  Just as the diet gurus argue over an increase in calories, so too does the medical community debate an increase in neurotransmitters.  A neurotransmitter is a chemical substance that carries a message through the brain. Nootropics feed the brain neurotransmitters and oxygen to increase cognitive ability, improve concentration, memory, creativity and moods, just as vitamins provide the nutrition needed for an energetic healthy body. Nootropics’ ability to enhance the brain has earned this class of drugs the nicknames “smart drugs” and “smart vitamins.”

There are Nootropic drugs, and there are Nootropic substances.  Nootropic drugs are often available by prescription, and Nootropic substances are available at health food and grocery stores.  Nootropic substances are vitamins and herbs. The term “Nootropics” refers to those drugs and substances that have a reputation to increase mental functions, such as memory and concentration, or those drugs or substances that can prevent damage to brain cells.

So what’s all the fuss about? Good food, good brains, good life - sounds good.  But is everyone good?  Just as not all food is good, neither is all thinking - or all drugs. Welcome bioethics. Brain enhancement can be for good or evil, just as cosmetic surgery can give hope to an accident victim or give a new identity to a serial killer.  Will physicians be the sole determinant of learning potential, or will individuals be left to decide for themselves?  By firing up your neurons, Nootropics might be able to help you decide.

How does Nootropics help with decision making?  Thinking and stress depletes neurotransmitters which reduces mental performance, concentration levels, learning efficiency and recall abilitites.  Nootropics keep the neurotransmitters at optimal levels, thereby increasing the brain’s capabilities for decision making. With the overwhelming choices of Nootropics available on the market, the hardest decision is going to be deciding what type is best for you.

For millions of Alzheimer and Cancer sufferers, Piracetam is available over the counter.  Vincopetine is available for stroke patients. Mayo clinic research showed that certain “smart drugs” slowed brain cancer tumors by as much as one-third.  For those afflicted with depression and other mood disorders, Indian Ginseng, Lemon Balm, Rhodeolia Rosea, St. John’s Wort, and Deprenyl are available. Amnesia might get a little boost from Brahmi, and for someone looking for improvement with memory and recall, simple Rosemary might be the answer, which has a longstanding reputation for improving memory, albeit unverified.  There are many types of Cholinergics, Dopaminergics and Serotonergics available for a variety of conditions, however an oversupply of any of these might have the opposite of the desired effect, a decrease rather than an increase in brain power. Nootropics are on the market for athletes promoting the focus-building properties; but be careful, the unethical get-rich-quick schemers might market a powder form of caffeine claiming it to have “nootropic effects” and charge an unreasonable price. Goodbye physicians, hello lawyers.  Fire up your neurons and do your research.