Nootropics

Modern-day lifestyles have placed increasing demands and almost unrealistic expectations on everybody. People who have succumbed to the pressure and fatigue that an average workday necessitates might be prone to brain fatigue, memory loss, anxiety, depression and stress.

Thankfully, there are ways around these that can help your mental health and make you more resilient to intellectual damage. What I’m referring to of course is nootropics.

What are Nootropics?

As described by the folks at Corpina, nootropics are a branch of science that deals with the betterment of brain health and performance. They have a variety of different uses from making it easier for you to remember to mood upliftment after a hard day at work.

Types of Nootropics

There are various nootropics out there but they fall under 2 basic categories:

  • Natural – extracted from herbs, leaves, organic oil for a feeling of general wellness. Vitamins and brain foods also come under this category.
  • Nootropic Drugs – created in the lab, targeting specific areas of the brain to address a specific problem.

In this case, one category is not better than the other; they each work bests in different contexts. For example, someone who is in need of a quick cognitive burst should take Aniracetam and Noopept, which have a more-immediate effect on the brain.

On the other hand, someone looking to improve and maintain their mental capacity over a period of time could opt for the milder and generic effects of natural nootropics.

I know that certain people are put-off by the idea of taking synthetic drugs, even when they’re proven to be safe. But let me assure you that for any drug to be called a nootropic, it must be a neuroprotective first. Meaning, it must have minimal occurrence of side effects and have lowest scores on the toxicity scale.

What do the experts have to say about nootropics?

I’ve managed to get in touch with the top experts in the nootropic industry and each one had a unique and interesting perspective about nootropics experience. We’ve published the results of the survey here: How To Improve Memory With Nootropics

Jesse Lawler

Jesse LawlerFounder of the website smartdrugsmarts.com has had a lot of impact on the nootropic community through his podcasts which talk in depth about his personal experiences with different nootropics.
These are his views:

  • I’ve come to believe there’s a lot of individual variation in people’s responses.
  • This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise; we’ve all got different diets, lifestyle habits, genetic predispositions, and (gulp) exposure levels to environmental toxins.
  • So I’ll advise an approach, not a specific stack: Try a few supplements or pre-mixed stacks. Try to hold other elements of your lifestyle constant so you can get a clean comparison. Don’t do everything at once.
  • Make an orderly, sequential tour of your vitamin cabinet, one bottle at a time. Keep a journal of how you feel on different days, and double-down on what works, scrap what doesn’t!

He clarifies that if you are looking to get into nootropics, you are better off following an approach rather than a specific stack because of the variation physiological factors.

Dave Asprey

Dave AspreyFounder of bulletproofexec.com and acclaimed author of the bestselling book, The Bulletproof Diet, Dave hacked into his own biology over a period of 2 decades. He lost 100 pounds and increased his IQ by 20 points.
He suggests:

  • Start with a choline source like Alpha GPC or Choline Bitartrate (if you get jaw tension from it, then stop). Then look into adding Aniracetam or Piracetam. CILTEP also works for long term memory. Krill Oil, Brain Octane Oil can also help.

‘Keep it simple’ is Dave’s motto. He explains that the right combination of racetam, choline supplement and healthy oil to round it all off can give you the best results.

Geoff Brennan

Geoff is a science and technology enthusiast and a futurist. He’s also the co-founder of 33rdSquare.com on which you can find articles and blogs for people with a technical bent of mind.
These are from his experiences:

  • While some drugs like Adderall or Modafinil offer the hope for improved memory and expanded intelligence to some today, the real beacon for those interested in expanding their brain power comes from the not-too-distant future.
  • Advances in neuroscience, including the work done by researchers to simulate our brains in silico, could unlock wholly new ways for us to think, learn, work and communicate.
  • The research being done today could unlock new brain supplements, technologies and more that will help us achieve unheard of heights.

Since Geoff is a melting pot of innovative ideas and theories, he figures that nootropics definitely have a role to play in granting us the cerebral power necessary to overcome tomorrow’s demands.

Dr. Thomas Shea

Dr. Thomas SheaDr. Shea is the brain behind the thinkperceptiv.com team who’ve developed Perceptiv, a natural formula which is clinically proven to protect the brain from day-to-day cognitive decline.
Here, he outlines what Perceptiv consists of and how it can help you get more out of your life:

  • Consistently positive results have been observed with a drug‐free nutraceutical formulation, which consists of 3 vitamins (folic acid, B12, vitamin E) and 3 nutraceuticals (S‐adenosyl methionine, N‐acetyl cysteine, acetyl‐L‐carnitine). This formulation improves memory, cognitive performance and mood for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment, and improves memory and focus for individuals without cognitive difficulties.
  • It is important that clinical data support the complete formulation. Some products “borrow” single ingredient tests. However in our research, we always tested the complete formulation. It is also vital that the clinical research be independent of any company to ensure nonbiased results.
  • Our results were consistent in 7 independent university‐conducted studies, none of which had any corporate support. Our phase II results can be viewed here. Published laboratory studies demonstrate that this formulation provides antioxidant protection to brain tissues and supports neurotransmitter production.

He states that independent studies have proven that Perceptiv does help your mental health over a period of time. The test was carried out on the whole formulation and not just single ingredients.

Rounding it up

While you might have read about the varying views about nootropic choices the fact is clear that it does help the brain perform close to its full potential.

Depression and anxiety without any reason are the results of bad mental health. Nootropics can offer a permanent and lasting solution for affected parties and they can continue to lead normal lives.

Like any other drugs or supplements, you should consult your doctor before you embark on a course of nootropics. This is because doctors have valuable insights into your body that is important in deciding what you need to take.
Best of luck!