Why would you take nootropics?

Answer 1

In 1964, scientists at the Belgian pharmaceutical company UCB synthesised a substance now known as Piracetam. Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, who led the team that synthesized Piracetam, coined the new substance a "Nootropic" and later branded the product Nootropil. The scientists were amazed at the safety of Piracetam, even in large doses. They observed the ability of Piracetam to increase mental functioning both in healthy people and in individuals with diseased mental conditions, such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Dr. Giurgea came up with a set of criteria that substances had to meet in order to be considered a true nootropic.

1. The substance enhances learning and memory
2. The substance enhances learned behaviours under conditions which are known to
3. disrupt them (hypoxia, for example)
4. The substance protects the brain from chemical or physical injury
5. The substance enhances the tonic cortical/subcortical control mechanisms
6. The substance exhibits few side effects and extremely low toxicity, while also lacking
7. the pharmacology of typical psychotropic drugs (motor stimulation, sedation, etc.)

Piracetam met all of these criteria and was subsequently the first substance labeled as a nootropic. Soon, many other compounds were derived from this new family of drugs called Racetams. From Piracetam, other Racetams such as Oxiracetam, Aniracetam, and Pramiracetam were developed and touted to be even more potent than the previous derivative. While each of the Racetams provide differing solubilities and potencies, they vary little in their effects. No one has been able to identify the exact mechanism of how Piracetam positively influences memory, but it is generally accepted that it enhances cerebral blood flow and protects brain cells from damage from oxygen deprivation. It is also said to increase communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain through stimulation of the corpus callosum. In terms of safety, Piracetam has little, if any, side effects. One scientist said that it was safer than salt and described the potential side effects as "few, mild, and transient."