Surveys suggest that roughly 25 percent of America’s 73 million baby boomers use nootropics to strengthen and maintain their cognitive abilities. As explored in Part 1, the term “nootropics” is mostly used by industry insiders. It describes a collection of often encapsulated plant-based remedies designed to stimulate and increase focus, alertness, memory and creativity.
Depending on the manufacturer, nootropic supplements can contain between eight and 16 active ingredients. Although the substances included are believed to enhance brain health, blending complementary botanicals is thought to encourage each substance to target a different neural pathway, potentially increasing their overall effect. Let’s look at a few components that appear again and again on the labels of various brands.
Among the most common ingredients is Bacopa monnieri, also known as Brahmi. For thousands of years, this hardy wetland plant has played a role in Ayurvedic medicine, usually ingested as juice, paste or a boiled tonic. Historically regarded as a brain-health enhancer, today it is promoted for reducing symptoms of ADHD, lowering stress and anxiety, and improving memory retention. According to Review Scout, which is sponsored by Hi-Altitude Brands, distributor of Stonehenge Health Products, some studies suggest that Bacopa monnieri may also influence acetylcholine, a naturally occurring neurotransmitter involved in memory and other functions.
Choline is another frequently found ingredient in nootropic stacks. Choline is a nutrient that normally enters the body through foods such as egg yolks, soybeans, legumes, salmon, cod, chicken and beef. Once chemically combined with acetyl groups derived through the body’s metabolism, choline helps form the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Naturally occurring acetylcholine plays a role in attention, memory, heartbeat, digestion, voluntary muscle movement and other bodily functions. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has published research suggesting that choline supplementation may benefit people whose diets do not provide adequate amounts of the nutrient. Because acetylcholine dysfunction has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and myasthenia gravis, some advocates recommend choline-rich foods and supplements as part of an overall approach to brain health.
Ginseng, another ancient remedy, is high on the ingredient list in many popular nootropic brands. According to research indexed by the National Library of Medicine, some studies suggest that ginseng may have beneficial effects on certain aspects of cognitive function. Researchers caution, however, that it is no quick fix. Ginseng and other nootropics may have cumulative effects, and some users report improvements in memory, learning and focus over time. Some research suggests these effects may be more noticeable in people experiencing cognitive decline than in healthy people seeking to enhance normal performance.
Three cheers for lion’s mane mushrooms! This fungus contains compounds being studied for possible anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. Researchers are also examining the relationship between gut health, inflammation and brain function, although much remains to be learned about how lion’s mane may affect these systems.
Finally, caffeine is listed as an ingredient in a number of nootropic products. For this application, the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive compound is often paired with L-theanine. L-theanine, an amino acid found primarily in tea leaves, may help temper some of caffeine’s stimulating effects while supporting alertness and concentration.
This is only a small sample of the herbal medicines and other substances used in combination to create nootropics. Each ingredient, however, has one thing in common: all are promoted as having characteristics that may support brain health.
Please see the final installment, “Nootropics: Science of the Mind, Part 3,” in the Sept. 11 edition of The Fernley Reporter. We will look at current opinions within the academic medical community, as well as research from private organizations, and consider the potential advantages and disadvantages of incorporating nootropics into wellness routines.
Before choosing to use nootropics or dietary supplements, consult your health care professional.
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