A Beginner’s Guide to Nootropics

Our Brains Are In Constant Information Overload. Considering Our Highly Competitive Society And Technology Advances, It Feels Like We Have To Keep Up Or Get Left Behind. As Humans, We Are Always Looking For Ways To Boost Cognitive Performance. 

In Recent Years, Neurocognitive Enhancement, Whereby An Individual Uses Supplements To Alter Their Brain Function To Enhance Processing Abilities, Has Gained Popularity Among CEO’s, University Students, Tech Execs And Entrepreneurs. Nootropics Are Supplements That Have Been Shown To Enhance Cognitive Functions Such As Increased Attentional Capacity, Memory, Creativity And Productivity. While There Is Evidence Suggesting That Nootropics Can Play An Important Role In Neurocognitive Enhancement, Evidence For Their Efficacy And Potential Long-Term Side Effects Need To Be Further Explored. 

Nootropics Are A Category Of Agents That Work Selectively "Towards The Mind." Derived From The Greek Words "Noos" Meaning "Mind," And "Tropein" Meaning "Towards," Nootropics Act Directly On The Integrative Activity Of The Mind That Occurs At The Highest Levels Of The Brain (The Telencephalon).

The Telencephalon Contains Sophisticated Structures Including The Hippocampus (Where Memory Forms), Broca's Area (Where Speech Forms), And The Corpus Callosum (Where Information Crosses Between Hemispheres). Because Of The Targeted Action Directly On The Integration Of These Brain Systems, Nootropics Are Able To Act On The Full Processes Related To Learning And Memory Including Recall, Processing, And Consolidation. This Selective Action Of Nootropics Also Must Occur While Being Neuroprotective, Virtually Free Of Side-Effects And Non-Toxic, Even At High Doses Even With Long-Term Administration.

What Are Nootropics?

The Term ‘Nootropic’ Was Coined In 1972 By Dr. Corneliu Giugrea, A Romanian Chemist. He Synthesised The First Nootropic Called Piracetam. He Originally Stated That Nootropics Should Provide Neuroprotective Benefits, Enhance Cognitive Processes And Possess Few Side Effects. 

Are Nootropics The Same As Smart Drugs?

Although Nootropics And Smart Drugs Share Brain Enhancing Properties, Smart Drugs Such As Modafinil, Adderall And Ritalin Are Typically A Pharmaceutical Grade And Are Used To Treat Disorders Including ADHA Or Sleep Apnoea (Partridge, 2011). Also Known As Psychostimulants, They Stimulate Increased Activity Of The Central Nervous System. In Contrast, A Nootropic Such As Caffeine, A More Natural Substance, Is Less Potent And Has Minimal Side Effects.

We Compiled A List Of Nootropics To Discover Further With You

Modafinil (Smart Drug)

Modafinil Has Emerged As One Of The Most Popular Cognitive Enhancing Substances. It Is A Prescription Drug Used To Treat ADHD, Narcolepsy And Other Sleep Disorders. However, Unprescribed Consumption Of Modafinil Has Been Linked With Improvements In Alertness, Energy, Focus And Decision Making (Kim, 2012). While Modafinil Shows Cognitive Benefits In Healthy People, The Effectiveness Of Such Drugs Is Questionable And The Risks Of Addiction And Other Long-Term Dangers Have Not Been Well Studied. 

Modafinil, Sold Under The Brand Name Provigil Among Others, Is A Medication To Treat Sleepiness Due To Narcolepsy, Shift Work Sleep Disorder, Or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. While It Has Seen Off-Label Use As A Purported Cognitive Enhancer, The Research On Its Effectiveness For This Use Is Not Conclusive.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (Nootropic)

DHA Is An Omega-3 Fatty Acid That Is Essential For Brain Development. Higher Levels Of DHA Are Correlated With Improved Memory And Executive Function. The Brain Is Made Up Of 60% Fat And DHA Makes Up 97% Of The Brain’s Total Omega-3 Fatty Acid Content, Particularly In Brain Regions Involved In Memory And Attention (Pomeroy, 2020). Therefore, Supplementation Of DHA Can Provide Neurocognitive Benefits. 

EPA And DHA Are Important Throughout Adulthood, As Well As During Periods Of Increased Brain Growth That Characterize Prenatal And Postnatal Development. Dietary Supplementation With DHA And EPA Has Proven Beneficial For A Number Of The Known Higher Mental Functions.

Because An Athlete Needs To Know That His Or Her Supplements Are Trustworthy And Compliant, Every Batch Of An NSF Certified For Sport? Product Is Tested For Compliance With Label Claims And To Ensure The Absence Of More Than 200 Substances Banned By Many Major Athletic Organizations, Including Stimulants, Narcotics, Steroids, Diuretics, Beta-2 Agonists, And Masking Agents.

When It Comes To Omega-3 Fish Oil, It's What Is NOT In The Capsule That Can Make A Difference. For Example, A Typical 1,000 Mg Fish Oil Capsule Might Contain 300-500 Mg Of Omega-3s But Also 500-700 Mg Of Other Saturated And Unsaturated Fats Per Capsule – Fats That Can Interfere With The Efficacy Of The Omega-3s.

This Is Our Top Pic Of DHA Supplementation. There Are The Two Main Types Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) And DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid).

L-Theanine (Nootropic)

L-Theanine Is An Amino Acid And A Main Ingredient In Green Tea. A Study Discovered It Can Increase Alpha-Wave Activity In The Brain, Which Is Linked To Creativity (Agnoli, 2018). Research Also Suggests That L-Theanine Has A Non-Drowsy Calming Effect, And Can Improve Attention And Memory (Dietz Et. Al, 2017). 

A Japanese Study Of University Students Found That 200 Mg Of L-Theanine Led To Increased Brain Alpha-Waves And A Subjective Sense Of Relaxation.* In The Same Study, L-Theanine Administration Also Caused A Dose-Dependent Relaxed, Yet Alert, State Of Mind Without Sedation, Beginning Approximately 40 Minutes After Ingestion.*

L-Theanine Can Enhance The Production Of The Neurotransmitters Dopamine And Serotonin, And It Appears To Play A Role In The Formation Of GABA – A Neurotransmitter That Acts Like A "Brake" During Times Of Runaway Stress.* L-Theanine Helps Establish Balance In The Neurotransmitter System, Resulting In Improvements In The Mental/Emotional And Physical Disturbances Resulting From Being Overly Stressed.

Theanine, Found Almost Exclusively In The Tea Plant, Helps Modify Brain Waves By Increasing Alpha-Wave Production. It Also Enhances Brain Neurotransmitters Involved In Stress Management.

Magnesium L-Theronate (Nootropic)

MIT Researchers Discovered Magnesium L-Threonate Based On Its Unique Rapid Brain Absorption Ability To Boost Brain Levels By 15% (Slutsky, 2010). In A 12-Week Study, Researchers Discovered In An Elderly Population With Mild Cognitive Function, Magnesium L-Threonate Lowered The Functioning Age Of The Brain By Approximately 9 Years (Liu Et. Al, 2016). 

Mag L-Threonate Features Magnesium L-Threonate As Magtein?, Designed To Help Support Cognitive Health. Magnesium, A Divalent Cation, Is Important For Neuronal Activity As It Binds To Neurotransmitter Receptors And Is A Co-Factor For Neuronal Enzymes.

Stacking Nootropics

A Nootropic Stack Is Combining Two Or More Supplements To Create A Synergistic Effect In The Brain Greater Than An Individual Supplement Can Provide On Its Own. Individuals Require Different Cognitive Demands And Supplementation For The Day Should Be Proportional To The Demands Of The Individual’s Day. E.G. Taking 500mg Of Caffeine Would Not Be Appropriate For Most On A Low Intensity Workout Day.

L-Theanine (100mg) + Caffeine (50mg) (2:1 L-Theanine To Caffeine Ratio)

The Combined Effect Of L-Theanine And Caffeine Has Been Found To Improve Various Cognitive Measures On Performance And Mood, Including Speed And Accuracy Of Performance And Reduced Susceptibility To Distracting Information (Schuster, 2019). 

Piracetam + Choline

The Body Uses Choline To Produce Acetylcholine, A Neurotransmitter That Plays An Essential Role In Memory And Learning. One Of The Ways That Piracetam Enhances Cognitive Function Is By Increasing Acetylcholine Production (Onaolapo, 2019). When Combined With Choline, It Improves Cognitive Performance And Decreases The Risk Of Crash. The Recommended Dosage Is 400mg Piracetam With 250mg Choline.

The Bottom Line: Supplementation, Not A Replacement

Nootropics Offer A Unique Way To Give The Brain Extra Support It Requires To Keep Going In The Modern World. While There Are Promising Benefits That Nootropics Propose, Further Research Needs To Be Conducted To Determine Its Effectiveness. Nootropics, Like Most Other Supplements Are Not A Be All And End All Approach. It Should Be Used In Conjunction With And Not As A Replacement For Proper Nutrition, Adequate Sleep And Exercise.

References

1. Wells AJ, Hoffman JR, Gonzalez AM, Et Al. Phosphatidylserine And Caffeine Attenuate Postexercise Mood Disturbance And Perception Of Fatigue In Humans. Nutr Res. 2013;33(6):464‐472. Doi:10.1016/J.Nutres.2013.03.009
2. Kumar, P. R., Essa, M. M., Al-Adawi, S., Dradekh, G., Memon, M. A., Akbar, M., & Manivasagam, T. (2014). Omega-3 Fatty Acids Could Alleviate The Risks Of Traumatic Brain Injury - A Mini Review. Journal Of Traditional And Complementary Medicine, 4(2), 89–92. Https://Doi.Org/10.4103/2225-4110.130374
3. Onaolapo, A. Y., Obelawo, A. Y., & Onaolapo, O. J. (2019). Brain Ageing, Cognition And Diet: A Review Of The Emerging Roles Of Food-Based Nootropics In Mitigating Age-Related Memory Decline. Current Aging Science, 12(1), 2–14. Https://Doi.Org/10.2174/1874609812666190311160754
4. Kim D. (2012). Practical Use And Risk Of Modafinil, A Novel Waking Drug. Environmental Health And Toxicology, 27, E2012007. Https://Doi.Org/10.5620/Eht.2012.27.E2012007
5. Gupta, A., Summerville, G., & Senter, C. (2019). Treatment Of Acute Sports-Related Concussion. Current Reviews In Musculoskeletal Medicine, 12(2), 117–123. Https://Doi.Org/10.1007/S12178-019-09545-7
6. Agnoli S, Zanon M, Mastria S, Avenanti A, Corazza GE. Enhancing Creative Cognition With A Rapid Right-Parietal Neurofeedback Procedure. Neuropsychologia. 2018;118(Pt A):99‐106. Doi:10.1016/J.Neuropsychologia.2018.02.015
7. Partridge, B. J., Bell, S. K., Lucke, J. C., Yeates, S., & Hall, W. D. (2011). Smart Drugs "As Common As Coffee": Media Hype About Neuroenhancement. PloS One, 6(11), E28416. Https://Doi.Org/10.1371/Journal.Pone.0028416
8. Schuster J, Mitchell ES. More Than Just Caffeine: Psychopharmacology Of Methylxanthine Interactions With Plant-Derived Phytochemicals. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2019;89:263‐274. Doi:10.1016/J.Pnpbp.2018.09.005
9. Liu G, Weinger JG, Lu ZL, Xue F, Sadeghpour S. Efficacy And Safety Of MMFS-01, A Synapse Density Enhancer, For Treating Cognitive Impairment In Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Alzheimers Dis. 2016;49(4):971‐990. Doi:10.3233/JAD-150538