What are cognitive enhancers?

The human body has five basic senses: the sense of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Cognition is defined as the ability to figure out the environment from various variables. Here is everything you need to know about using a cognitive enhancer, and why they are so popular nowadays:

What is a cognitive enhancer?

As the name suggests, cognitive enhancers are enhancers that boost the ability to perceive the environment. The brain uses the five senses to perceive and understand the world around it. There is this unique thing about the world that it looks different to different people. This is because everyone has a different cognitive capacity.

Originally discovered by Corneliu Giurgea, cognitive enhancers are usually given the name of nootropics or cognitive enhancers.

A cognitive enhancer can enhance how one sees the world, for the better. There are various kinds of cognitive enhancers in the market, depending on whether they are to be used for recreational purposes or as medication.

Where are cognitive enhancers used?

Cognitive enhancers have found a pretty big market. Caffeine is the most popular example of cognitive enhancers as it is also labelled as the most popular drug. Cognitive enhancers are used in various scenarios such as:

• Athletes – Athletes use cognitive enhancers to boost their brain activity, and to reduce muscle fatigue. Many athletes also use nootropics as a way to improve their performance. Bodybuilders intake nootropics in the form of creatine which is found in supplements.
• Cure of ADHD – Children over six years of age suffering from ADHD are recommended to use Methylphenidate, a nervous system stimulant. Similarly, children and young adults are also advised to use Atomoxetine.
• Cure Alzheimer’s – People who suffer from Alzheimer’s are usually advised to try Donepezil, another nootropic. Though there are some side effects like diarrhoea or insomnia, they improve the ability to learn.
• Sleep problems – Modafinil is a drug that has been used to cure narcolepsy and insomnia-like situations. Modafinil does not seem to offer other advantages like improved alertness and concentration that other cognitive enhancers have.

What is the future of cognitive enhancers?

The future for the cognitive enhancers market is great. The market is supposed to be increased to about 6 billion USD in less than 6 years. The industry as it stands is already a billion-dollar industry. The demand for cognitive enhancers is only going to increase because of the competitive environment and people looking to invest more into opening up the brain.

Controversies surrounding cognitive enhancers

Many doctors and people believe that nootropics have no more than placebo positive effects on healthy people. Though they are proven to be effective against people who are suffering from mental issues, use of over-the-store enhancers by healthy people seem to have next to no effect. In the upcoming years, there might be cognitive enhancers that prove to be effective for people without any side-effects or just placebo positive effects.

Final Thoughts:

We are looking forward to a future where cognitive enhancers are relevant and work on healthy people.