Although the term nootropic was coined in 1972 to refer to certain memory-stimulating agents and cognitive enhancers, it has not been until recent years that they have become fashionable. The creator of this concept was Dr. Corneliu E.Giurgea, who formed a new term from the Greek words nous (mind) and tropos (direction) to refer to all those psychoactive drugs that improve higher brain integrative activity. Over time, in addition to drugs, dietary supplements derived exclusively from natural products have been developed, and we have even begun to talk about nootropic foods, which are all those that contain a high concentration of these substances.
It was not until a few years ago that the term nootropic became popular. For some time now, numerous media outlets around the planet have begun to refer to them as "smart drugs", ensuring that they are sweeping Silicon Valley due to their miraculous properties for cognitive development, memory, concentration, ability reaction and other aspects related to brain function. A storytelling that is undoubtedly very attractive to many people who make high intellectual efforts in their daily lives, which has led to the proliferation of companies dedicated to its marketing and millions of new users around the world.
According to Lucas Jurado Fasoli, postdoctoral researcher at the Joint University Sports and Health Institute (iMUDS), an organization dependent on the University of Granada, "given the reluctance of many people to consume synthetic nootropics, natural formulas have been developed from some foods or plants that present high doses of these substances that enhance the cognitive process". The researcher points out, however, that "in no case is consuming a food that contains nootropics going to achieve the same results, since for them to be effective the concentration has to be very high. Except in the case of caffeine, the rest of foods should be consumed indiscriminately to notice any effect.
Jurado Fasoli is the author of a research carried out on a total of 26 young adults (about 25 years old on average) who completed various cognitive tests. Some of them consumed a multi-ingredient dietary nootropic (that is, from natural substances combined together) and others a placebo, all in a randomized and blinded manner. "The objective of the research was to know if the natural nootropics that are marketed are really effective or are, to put it simply, smoke-mongers, as is the case, for example, of some fat-burning supplements whose effectiveness lacks scientific support."
The result of this study was that "the consumption of nootropics does, indeed, have a positive effect, since they improve memory and decision making, as well as inhibitory control, among other aspects related to the cognitive process," explains the scientist. . Jurado Fasoli also recalls that "the response time in different tests in terms of working memory, cognitive flexibility (ability to change tasks and be efficient), speed of information processing, greater precision in responses also improved considerably. , fewer mistakes and greater creativity".
Another aspect that was taken into account in the research was the possible negative effects of the consumption of these substances. "No changes were detected in heart rate or feelings of anxiety or nervousness," says the iMUDS researcher, who, however, does not recommend the indiscriminate consumption of nootropics to the majority of the population. "Nootropics should be considered a tool that can be used in specific situations, from opponents to people during exams who need extra concentration or professions such as gamers, airplane pilots or soldiers. On a social level I have my doubts that it is convenient consume nootropics just because," explains Jurado Fasoli.
Who has no doubt is the doctor and nutritionist Núria Monfulleda, from the Loveyourself center in Barcelona, who is skeptical about the proliferation of miraculous foods and supplements that have emerged in recent times. "For good concentration, the most important thing is the gray matter. If we sleep well, do physical exercise, maintain a good diet and, in addition, train the gray matter, we will guarantee its proper functioning. How to do it? Doing activities that require concentration, memorizing, reading, doing puzzles... The problem is that all of this requires effort, so that every now and then new supplements emerge designed so that we do not have to make an effort, but rather so that everything is simple and immediate."
For Monfulleda, the popularization of nootropics is still comparable to that of techniques such as acupuncture or the use of Bach flowers, which despite having little scientific support "work for many people, probably due to the placebo effect: They work because you believe it," explains the doctor.
Regarding the presence of nootropics in foods such as tea, cocoa or nuts, Monfulleda assures that "in no case can one speak of nootropic foods" and warns that the fashion of attributing miraculous or excessively harmful properties to foods only leads to misinformation. "Foods have good and bad things. There are better and worse, more and less recommended, but no food on its own has either the negative effects that are often attributed to it or the miraculous properties," says Monfulleda. The expert points out that, in general terms, "the popularization of certain foods or supplements among the population usually has powerful marketing campaigns behind it, which should make us suspicious."
Therefore, although it is true that, in the words of Jurado Fasoli, "there are substances that can enhance the establishment of neuronal connections more quickly", it is also true that we cannot speak of "smart drugs" or attribute them to nootropics supernatural effects. Since they are purchased without a prescription, the expert also recommends being attentive to the dosage and in no case exceeding the recommended doses. "Just because dietary nootropics come from plant or food extracts does not mean that we can consume them indiscriminately, since even if they are natural, there are maximum tolerable doses that must be adhered to," concludes the expert.
The best-known nootropic is caffeine, which, according to Jurado Fasoli, "is the only one that allows you to notice the effects with direct consumption." It is followed by L-theanine, which is obtained from green tea extract, L-tyrosine, taurine and acetyl-carnitine. As for plant extracts, the most used are Bacopa monnieri, Rhodiola rosea root, ginseng, Huperzia leaves, and mango and sage leaves. The nootropics currently marketed combine several of them to achieve different results.
