What is Nootropic
Nootropics, popularly referred to as “smart drugs”, “smart nutrients”, “cognitive enhancers” and “brain enhancers”, are a class of drugs that improve impaired human cognitive abilities (the functions and capacities of the brain).[1] The term covers a broad range of substances including drugs, nutrients and herbs that have purported cognitive enhancing effects.
The word nootropic was coined in 1964 by the Romanian Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, derived from the Greek words noos, or “mind,” and tropein meaning “to bend/turn”. Typically, nootropics are alleged to work by altering the availability of the brain’s supply of neurochemicals (neurotransmitters, enzymes, and hormones), by improving the brain’s oxygen supply, or by stimulating nerve growth. However the efficacy of alleged nootropic substances in most cases has not been conclusively determined. This is complicated by the difficulty of defining and quantifying cognition and intelligence.
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Fipexide is a piperazine derivative drug invented in Italy in 1983.[1]
It was used as a nootropic drug in France and Italy, mainly for the treatment of senile dementia,[2] but is no longer in common use due to the occurrence of rare adverse drug reactions including fever[3] and hepatitis. Fipexide is similar in action to other nootropic drugs such as piracetam and is structurally similar to another more well-known nootropic, centrophenoxine.
Linopirdine is a psychostimulant/nootropic, which has neuroprotective effects. It acts as a potassium channel blocker, and releases acetylcholine, which is probably responsible for its nootropic action.
Along with other cholinergics or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as Huperzine A, galantamine also has been used as nootropic or "brain enhancer". [13]
A number of studies on healthy volunteers have demonstrated vinpocetine may elicit improvement on some aspects of memory. [5] [6] The degree which the nootropic effects of vinpocetine are mediated by mechanisms beyond vasodilation is currently unknown.
A number of studies on healthy volunteers have demonstrated vinpocetine may elicit improvement on some aspects of memory. [5] [6] The degree which the nootropic effects of vinpocetine are mediated by mechanisms beyond vasodilation is currently unknown.
Aniracetam (Draganon, Sarpul, Ampamet) is a nootropic compound of the racetam family purported to be considerably more potent than piracetam. It is lipid soluble and has possible cognition enhancing effects. It has been tested in animals extensively, Alzheimer's patients and temporarily-impaired healthy subjects. It has shown potential as an anxiolytic in three clinical animal models. Sold in the US as a dietary supplement while used in Europe as a prescription drug.
Aniracetam is an ampakine class Nootropic.
Some regular food items are rich sources of substances with alleged nootropic benefits:
Nuts, in particular walnuts, are rich sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid. A mixture of walnuts served with dried fruit pieces is known in some regions as student food (orig. German: Studentenfutter) and is popularly recommended as a snack for students.
Oily fish, such as salmon or fresh tuna (not tuna canned in oil) are also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, whose lack in diet has been associated with increased risk of mental illnesses such as
Tricyanoaminopropene (TRIAP, TCAP, Malononitrile Dimer, 1,1,3-tricyano-2-amino-1-propene) is a nootropic drug which mimics the function of nerve growth factor and increases the growth of nerves and tissue regeneration both in isolated tissues[1] and in vivo. It stimulates the action of the enzyme choline acetyltransferase, resulting in increased acetylcholine production.[2] This then results in increased synthsis of RNA in many different tissues in the body. [3] However it also suppresses the production of thyroxine, causing temporary hypothyroidism which returns to normal once the drug is discontinued.[4]
Tricyanoaminopropene reduces the amnesia produced by electroconvulsive shock,[5] and animal tests suggested nootropic activity,[6][7][8] but no beneficial
Racetams are a class of nootropic drugs that share a pyrrolidine nucleus.
Carbenoxolone has also been investigated for nootropic effects.[1]
This research started from an observation that long-term exposure to glucocorticoids may have negative effects on cognition. Carbenoxolone may decrease the amount of active glucocortocoid in the brain, because the drug inhibits 11Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1, an enzyme which activates cortisol from cortisone, a glucocorticoid. In the research trial investigating this use of carbenoloxone, it was shown that the drug improved verbal fluency in elderly healthy men (aged 55-75). In type 2 diabetics aged 52-70, the drug improved verbal memory. However, it should be noted that potassium-sparing diuretic amiloride was co-administered with carbenoxolone,
Dimiracetam is a nootropic drug of the racetam family,[1] derivatives of which may have application in the treatment of neuropathic pain.[2]
Centrophenoxine (also called Meclofenoxate, and formerly sold under the brand name Lucidril) is a drug used to treat the symptoms of senile dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. It is a compound of two biochemicals: dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) and parachlorophenoxyacetate (pCPA). DMAE is a natural substance, found especially in fish, and also produced in the human brain. pCPA is a synthetic compound that resembles a variety of plant hormones called auxins.
Like DMAE, it is a precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and may increase levels of this chemical in the CNS. It also increases cellular membrane phospholipids which is considered by some to be
It has been used to treat dementia and age-related cognitive impairment (such as in Alzheimer disease),[1] as well as to aid in recovery after stroke.
Ergoloids are also used by many people as a nootropic.
Nebracetam is nootropic drug of the racetam family, and an antidepressant (M1 acetylcholine receptor
Dimiracetam is a nootropic drug of the racetam family,[1] derivatives of which may have application in the treatment of neuropathic pain.[2]
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