We all want to be quick and bright. Most of us are, but we all have our moments where we might not have the same amount of focus as we wish we had. This could be as small as forgetting what we were doing when we walked into a room or not being able to finish a puzzle or homework.
If simple tricks aren’t helping you, it may be time to look into supplements to get your brain back on track. There are supplements called nootropics that can be both natural and synthetic. These supplements are made to help your cognitive functionality every day of your life.
What causes brain deterioration?
There are a lot of causes of brain deterioration. One of the most obvious ones is age. After a certain amount of time, your brain will inevitably start to break down. The older you get, the more you may notice forgetting small things. Soon, people may start to forget more and more things, even the names of their loved ones.
Another reason that people can experience brain deterioration is from brain trauma. Car accidents, sports, and other incidents can cause injuries to the brain that can hinder brain functionality.
Of course, some people are simply born with lower cognitive function. They may come to this world with a learning disability or other conditions. Other people may not have a disorder but merely require more assistance focusing than others.
If you find yourself having a problem every once in a while, it may be time to consider taking nootropics to get your brain in order.
What are Nootropics?
In the simplest terms, nootropics are supplements that enhance cognitive function. Since our brain does a lot of things, this can affect a broad range of abilities including:
- Attention
- Creativity
- Learning
- Memory
- Mood
I’m sure that we could all use some help in these areas from time to time, so it’s great that we have these products available. But how exactly do they work?
How Nootropics Work
There are several different types of nootropics, and they all work in slightly different ways:
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Connecting Neurons
The brain has about 100 billion neurons, and they need to connect. When doctors examine a person’s brain, they mostly examine the connections made among the neurons. Some nootropics help make these connections.
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Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that actually send signals from one neuron to another. Nootropics allow these chemicals to work faster and more efficiently, helping create better connections and increasing cognitive function.
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Blood and Oxygen Flow
Nootropics allow blood and oxygen to flow to the brain more easily. This allows the brain to be more energetic.
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Brain Plasticity
Brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is the ability of the brain to change throughout a person’s life. We need our brain to be malleable to adjust to our growing bodies and changes through adulthood. This plasticity changes the synapses, which are the things in your brain that allow it to communicate.
In whatever way they alter the brain, the end effects nootropics produce are all reasonably similar. However, they are not all the same. So it’s worth investing a bit of time to find the nootropic that works best for you.
Types of Nootropics
There are many different nootropics that you can choose from. Here are your options:
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Racetams
The most popular nootropics are racetams. They are also the oldest available, starting with Piracetam. They are made out of nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. Racetams are known for producing more brain cells while also slowing down their decay, helping with all areas of cognitive function.
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Choline Nootropics
Our bodies naturally create choline, but we usually need more. These substances are typically paired with racetams.
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Vitamin B
These nootropics are made from vitamin B, usually B1. These are mostly used to help with energy by affecting dopamine, choline, and glutamate.
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Peptides
These are highly effective. They affect both the glutamate and acetylcholine.
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Ampakines
These new nootropics are especially useful for learning and memory. They mostly affect brain plasticity. You won’t experience jitters or other side effects associated with caffeine either.
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Natural Nootropics
These are nootropics that are made with natural ingredients. While they can be less effective than synthetic options, they are the safest options.
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Smart Drugs
It’s crucial to realize that although “nootropics” and “smart drugs” are often used interchangeably, that shouldn’t be the case. In fact, they are entirely different. Smart drugs are usually stimulants used for people with ADHD, and they have many more side effects when compared to nootropics.
Nootropics Side Effects
As with any supplement, there is the small chance of side effects when you take nootropics. Of course, there is a more significant chance of side effects if someone takes supplements in ways other than those described. Some of the potential side effects of nootropics include:
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Digestive system problems
- Shakiness
It’s important to take the supplement as recommended on the bottle or by your doctor. Taking it as outlined in the instructions will reduce the chance of any of these side effects significantly.
One more thing to note is that nootropics are not addictive, nor are they prone to abuse like many stimulants. If you do not think that they are working for you or you experience side effects, you can just stop taking them without suffering any withdrawal problems.
Final Words
Learning about your options is an excellent start to getting your focus back. First, determine what your ultimate goals are: do you want to have a better memory? Do you want to focus better? Do you want to be sharper in general?
After you’ve determined your goal, figure out what type of supplement you prefer. Do you want something strong and synthetic or mild and all natural? This will help you pick the nootropic that’s right for you. Just be aware that not all nootropics may be legal where you live. If you still have questions, be sure to read through our nootropics and stimulants FAQ or talk to your doctor. They can answer any concerns you may have. Remember, with smart drugs, you don’t have to live with brain fog anymore.
