What is a nootropic?
You’ve probably heard the term “nootropic” talked about a lot recently. Like Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), it’s a trendy word right now. But what does it mean? According to the dictionary, a nootropic is a substance that enhances cognition and memory and facilitates learning. Slang dictionaries erroneously call them “smart drugs.”
The word nootropic is derived from two Greek words: “nous,” which means mind, and ”tropein,” which means to bend or turn. Although the term nootropic originally referred to synthetic substances that were purported to enhance mental abilities, the term is now being used more broadly to refer to anything that supports cognitive function – including nutrients and botanicals in dietary supplements.
History of Nootropics
Although the term “notropic” has become a hip term, it’s not new. In fact, it was coined by a Romanian chemist and psychologist, Dr. Corneliu Giurgea, several decades ago – sometime in the mid-1960s or early ‘70s. There is also evidence of the use of plants being used to influence mood and cognition, such as Ginkgo and Ginseng, dating back more than 10,000 years ago. The use of Ginkgo might even date back further than that because Ginkgo trees are the oldest living trees on Earth, dating back 250 million years.
Dr. Guirgea outlined several specific conditions for something to be called a nootropic. It needed to:
Who uses nootropics?
Nootropics are used by people of all age looking to optimize their brain health. The products appeal to students who are cramming for exams or young, upwardly mobile professionals in high-powered jobs looking for the mental edge to boost creativity and productivity in a competitive environment. They also appeal to baby boomers and seniors looking who are looking to boost their memory and energy.
What are some common nootropics?
What would be included on a list of common nootropics depends on whether you follow the strict definition for nootropics originally outlined by Dr. Giurgea 50 years ago, or whether you define the term more loosely to encompass anything that might support any aspect of cognitive function. Substances commonly referred to as nootropics cover the gamut:
Dietary supplements as Nootropics
A significant body of research points to the benefits of dietary supplements – including various botanicals and nutrients – for supporting cognitive function, memory, focus, productivity, creativity, and neurological health. Because of their low side-effect profile and lack of dependency and withdrawal symptoms, supplements better fit the true definition of a nootropic than the so-called smart drugs, although their effects are more subtle and gradual. These dietary supplements are taken alone or as a “stack,” another trendy term for combining several nootropics. You can find stacks that focus on one aspect of cognition; for example, memory, focus & mental altertness or healthy brain aging.
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