{"id":104054,"date":"2021-09-20T00:33:07","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T07:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/?p=104054"},"modified":"2021-09-22T02:37:46","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T09:37:46","slug":"are-nootropics-safe-long-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/2021\/09\/20\/are-nootropics-safe-long-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Nootropics Safe Long-Term?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/woman-hand-holding-purple-pills-handful.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-104056\" src=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/woman-hand-holding-purple-pills-handful.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/woman-hand-holding-purple-pills-handful.jpg 960w, https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/woman-hand-holding-purple-pills-handful-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/woman-hand-holding-purple-pills-handful-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Suppose you are a student in the last minutes of exam preparation or a young professional looking for a quick fix to help you get a promotion. In that case, the idea of a pill that could potentially boost your brainpower overnight is exciting.<\/p>\n<p>I mean, who wouldn\u2019t want a magic pill to fix all your problems? No wonder their popularity is constantly on the rise. Nootropics promise magical convenience and instant gratification.<\/p>\n<p>Medically, the term \u2018nootropics\u2019 refers to a distinct chemical that works to improve cognitive performance. However, the term is now used to describe natural and synthetic substances used to enhance brain performance.<\/p>\n<p>They fall into three categories;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prescription drugs<\/li>\n<li>Synthetic compounds<\/li>\n<li>Dietary supplements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Prescription nootropics are mainly prescribed for older people with dementia or as a stimulant medication for ADHD.\u00a0 The general use of these brain enhancers for healthy people is controversial, and there is no proven evidence that they work.<\/p>\n<p>But are nootropics safe for long-term use, and do they work? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n<h3>Are Nootropics Safe?<\/h3>\n<p>According to the director of the cognitive neurology\/neuropsychology division at Johns Hopkins Medicine, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/profiles\/details\/barry-gordon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Barry Gordon, MD, Ph.D<\/a>., there is no conclusive study that says clearly whether they are safe. According to him, it is not clear what the basic premise behind nootropics supplements is.<\/p>\n<p>Also, a study done by experts at Manipal Academy on the use of cognitive enhancers on healthy people found a shortage of literature to confirm the safety of nootropics in the long term.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, there are ethical issues related to the nonprescription use of nootropics. Most of the pills sold in the market come from loosely regulated sources. They are either sold over the counter, from online vendors, and other unconventional sources.<\/p>\n<p>It is possible that the substances used in the pills are not nootropics but substitutes that could easily be harmful to your health. Unlike prescription drugs which are clinically tested and regulated, there is no guarantee that these substances are safe for you, whether in the short term or the long run.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, doctors are also advised to be extra careful when prescribing nootropics to patients with psychiatric symptoms. There is not enough medical evidence relating to the reaction of nootropics to other mental health medications. There is a risk of severe side effects if nootropics react to another psychotropic.<\/p>\n<p>Although, a lot of additional research needs to be done on the topic, this is not to say that all-natural nootropics are also not safe. According to experts at <a href=\"https:\/\/evidencelive.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Evidencelive.org,<\/strong> <\/a>some nootropics like fish oils and caffeine are relatively safe if used in moderation. So, continue to enjoy your cup of morning coffee!<\/p>\n<h3>Do Nootropics Deliver on Their Promise?<\/h3>\n<p>There is a lack of extensive study to show the effect of these supplements on the brain. However, natural nootropics can affect the brain. A good example is coffee.<\/p>\n<p>Caffeine, found in coffee, is a natural stimulant. Studies have shown that caffeine can affect your mood and general brain function.<\/p>\n<p>But does that mean that your morning cup of coffee has the power to make you smarter? Well, yes and no! Your regular cup of coffee contains around 200\u2013400 mg, which is considered safe and good for your health.<\/p>\n<p>However, taking caffeine as a supplement to boost these benefits can be counterproductive and lead to various side effects like anxiety and sleep apnea.<\/p>\n<h4>How nootropics work<\/h4>\n<p>To understand how nootropics work, you need first to understand the human brain.<\/p>\n<p>The human brain has an overdeveloped cerebral cortex compared to other mammals. The cerebral cortex contains upwards of 100 billion neurons in a network, each attached from cell to cell.<\/p>\n<p>The size and complexity of this network are what allow humans to think abstractly &#8211; the cognitive capacity.<\/p>\n<p>So how do nootropics affect all this complexity? They target the CNS. To put it simply, nootropics work together with the neurotransmitters to enhance higher faculties such as memory, stress adaptation, and concentration.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Armodafinil is a substance that promotes a neuroexcitatory effect to work as a wakefulness-promoting drug.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the brain pathways enhanced by nootropics;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Brain energy<\/strong>. The brain is a high-intensity organ. It constantly needs energy for both maintenance and management of its functions. If the brain cannot receive sufficient energy to run its functions, that is when you experience fatigue. Nootropics promise to help transport and retain this energy to allow your brain to work more efficiently.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cerebral blood flow.<\/strong> The brain needs to efficiently receive brain-nourishing compounds and remove brain-damaging neurotoxins out of its tissue. Sometimes due to age or other factors, this function is affected or slowed down. Nootropics act as a booster to promote cerebral circulation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brain Waves<\/strong>. The brain is like the central electrical station of the body. It manages the electrical activity of the brain. When tired or old, these electrical currents lower, reflecting lower cognition.\u00a0 Nootropics, e.g., L-Theanine, aim to promote and maintain these brain waves, enhancing concentration and alertness.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brain Regeneration<\/strong>. The brain also wears out over time. Old age, trauma, and other life experiences can leave your brain worn out and tired. But the brain is also capable of regenerating in a process also known as neurogenesis. Some nootropics help manage and boost this process.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Brain Chemicals<\/strong>. Brain chemicals help with synaptic transmission. They are like the brain messenger, and if they do not work, there is a serious problem. Nootropics help promote neurotransmitter synthesis, enhance receptor sensitivity, and protect the brain from neurotransmitter breakdown.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>So Are Nootropics Safe Long Term?<\/h4>\n<p>In a nutshell, no one knows for sure as there are no conclusive extensive clinical studies to determine whether or not nootropics, prescribed or supplements, have a long-term effect on a human brain.<\/p>\n<p>However, because the sources of most of the supplements are not properly regulated, there is a risk of illegal use of substances that could eventually affect your health. So it is advisable to go slow on these brain enhancers.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Suppose you are a student in the last minutes of exam preparation or a young professional looking for a quick fix to help you get a promotion. In that case, the idea of a pill that could potentially boost your brainpower overnight is exciting. I mean, who wouldn\u2019t want a magic pill to fix all [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":104056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1506],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104054"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/93"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104054\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theavtimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}