Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Brain food?
Promising everything from boosting intelligence to preventing mental burnout, nootropics are growing in popularity. But what are they and do they really work, asks Niamh Leonard-bedwell
What are noortropics?
Also referred to as “smart drugs”, nootropics are substances believed to enhance brain function.
They are becoming popular among people hoping to boost productivity in the workplace or any situation where you want to increase creativity, your attention span, memory or motivation.
The term actually covers a range of substances – some occur naturally, others are made synthetically.
Prescription drugs such as modafinil (used to treat narcolepsy) and methylphenidate (drugs such as Ritalin, used to treat ADHD) are classed as nootropics, while caffeine also falls under the umbrella term.
Natural nootropics you may have heard of include ginkgo biloba, the amino acid L-theanine and creatine, which is found in meat and fish.
How do they work?
Nootropics work by influencing chemical processes in the brain. Many are stimulants or short-acting chemicals that can give us a boost or help focus our attention.
For example, coffee energises us because caffeine blocks the receptors in our brain for adenosine, a chemical which can make us feel sleepy.
And L-theanine, the natural nootropic found in tea, has a calming effect. It’s believed to alter our levels of serotonin and dopamine, which influence our emotions, as well as levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
As creatine can help the body build muscle, it’s a popular supplement among gym-goers, but it also binds with phosphate to create a molecule our brain uses to quickly fuel its cells. This spike in energy has been linked to improved short-term memory.
Ginkgo biloba has also been shown to improve memory – it’s believed this may be because it stimulates blood flow to the brain.
Finally, flowering herb Rhodiola rosea is seen as an adaptogen. This term is used in traditional medicine for natural substances with stimulant properties believed to help bodies counteract the effects of stress.
Who can take them?
Over-the-counter nootropics should be safe for most healthy adults, but don’t exceed the recommended dose. Prescription nootropics should only be taken under doctor’s supervision.
What’s the evidence?
The ways in which nootropics influence brain function, including natural ones such as ginkgo biloba, have been studied fairly widely – some more than others. Research also suggests certain nootropics might be useful in treating brain diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. Improving memory: As meat and fish contain creatine, vegetarians tend to have lower levels.
One study investigated if supplements might positively impact on brain function. A group of vegetarians and vegans took a memory test before and after taking a supplement for six weeks.
More research is needed but overall they showed an improvement. Fighting fatigue: In a Swedish study, 60 adults with stress-related tiredness were assigned either four weeks’ worth of natural nootropic Rhodiola rosea or a placebo.
While symptoms improved for both groups, the participants taking supplements showed fewer signs of burnout.
In another study, participants with chronic fatigue saw improved symptoms after taking the supplement for eight weeks.
Stress and anxiety: Another study investigated whether L-theanine could help counteract the stress of taking a maths test. They found participants’ heart rates dropped after a supplement was administered part-way through the test.
L-theanine is also shown to reduce anxiety in schizophrenia sufferers when combined with antipsychotic treatment. In another study, ginkgo biloba reduced symptoms of generalised anxiety.
‘‘ Research shows they may be useful to treat brain diseases like Alzheimer’s