What are Nootropics?

Nootropics come from the Greek words "noos" (mind) and "tropos" (a bend), which essentially means acting on the mind^[2]. The first ever use of the word was with the pharmaceutical Nootropil, a revolutionary drug, which exhibited an extremely high LD-50 that's yet to be determined (the dosage at which 50% of rats die from intake), and appeared to increase cognitive performance through various mechanisms^[1]. Most importantly, the increased activation of the corpus colleseum^[1], a central part of the brain which allows for the interchange of information along the two hemispheres.

It is currently, to my knowledge, sold as a dietary supplement from Relentless Improvement. Though expensive, this is a rare company, which has independent third-party purity testing as well as being "bottled in a FDA licensed, cGMP certified facility".

The term is now extremely popular amongst supplement takers for its properties:
- Excellent Safety profile
- Increasing cognitive faculties (memory, attention, etc)
- Improve Brain Health
- Delay onset of age related cognitive decline

The book Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief defines their benefits as:

"...herbs, supplements, and pharmaceutical medications (for example, galantamine) [that] are used to enhance memory, slow or prevent the onset of age or Alzheimer's disease-related cognitive decline, reduce oxidative or ischemic damage to the brain, and improve mood."^[1]

^[1] (Wikipedia Entry for Nootropil)

^[2] (Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, pg 222)