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What Are Nootropics? Are They Going to Make You Smarter?

November 30, 2015 / 44 Comments



I don’t know why, but you all keep asking for an episode on nootropics. For those of you who aren’t in the know, those are drugs which are supposed to enhance cognitive function. Nootropics are the topic of this week’s Healthcare Triage.

Those of you who want to read more can go here: http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/?p=68338

John Green — Executive Producer
Stan Muller — Director, Producer
Aaron Carroll — Writer
Mark Olsen — Graphics




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44 Comments

  • ty

    March 7, 2021 at 8:43 pm Reply

    Been taking adderall prescribed by my doctor for four years now. For people wondering, yes it does make you focus a lot better even for people without cognitive deficits from other people I've met who take it without an rx, but I would still highly advise against it. Sure work might be a lot easier, but it becomes a slippery slope to the point where you can't work without it, and you can end up addicted.

  • svanman614

    June 16, 2021 at 2:51 pm Reply

    I would give his input more credibility if it wasn't apparent that the topic bothered him. Like he didn't want to cover it. Definitely had an attitude when talking about it. Even if what he said is true, his personal sentiment needs to be considered when trying to decide on how I feel about what he said.

  • Caleb Evans

    September 10, 2021 at 12:25 am Reply

    I’ve had nootropics before and they really work. They make me so much happier and my brain feels looser. Also why does everyone just talk ab how nootropics make u smarter and not ab the happiness part?

  • m1ck3ys40

    November 26, 2021 at 9:46 am Reply

    I apologize for pointing out how I feel this is a misleading video. Every compound has a different intended effect naturally, with variables how a person's health or mental status is, effects study results obviously. Nootropics by definition is a mode to improve cognition and learning and not intentionally a stimulant or vitamin. Synthetic compounds such racetams have no stimulant properties but are effective with providing choline reuptake to neural receptors to provide maximum "brain food" for performance. Combining a stimulant, vitamins and racetam is called a stack that work together to feed your brain. I have done this and now switch stacks every day for the last 4 years with great success in my job, I can only describe it as I feel sharp or quick now. SMH

  • AltBait

    December 1, 2021 at 6:11 am Reply

    I drink whiskey and coffee , no social media apps , no human interactions, no Netflix , 10 mins of u tube everyday and my focus is all time high! Distractions and focus’s are created by us and we can always make a choice!

  • Kevin

    December 30, 2021 at 2:53 am Reply

    Hey. Adderall does not slow down ADHD people's brains. That's ass backwards. ADHD people actually have depressed inhibition. If you give some stimulants to an ADHD patient, then that's enough to stimulate these inhibitory regions, which just looks like they're being sedated. If you give an ADHD patient enough of that stimulant, past the point where the inhibitory regions/ pathways have been brought up to a normal level, then they will start getting tweaked out just as much as the next guy. It might just take a little more of the same drug to get them there.

  • Ivivion

    February 11, 2022 at 9:26 pm Reply

    Tbh I am just researching just for focus, I have autism. And most of the time I have trouble having a routine and concentrating. I am just trying to find a way to not be overanxious over anything but cannot afford the medication or even a doctor's visit.

  • David

    April 24, 2022 at 11:31 pm Reply

    I play chess. In the chess world this things have being going on on for ever, so much so that today they make professional chess players take anti-doping test to make sure they are not taking any of this controlled substances.

    You are a fool talking in your video about stuff that you don't know. But go ahead and keep believing that this things do not work.

    Your argument that there is not real way to prove improvement of performance is no true, as ELO is a scientific way to measure performance.

  • Marshall Law

    May 18, 2022 at 5:48 am Reply

    I have adhd and i cant take aderal cause my heart races. So i just bought thesis' package for nootropics. I hope it can help with my deficiency and help me finally get some control in my life.

  • Wesley Groth

    June 3, 2022 at 10:14 am Reply

    Not looking to get smarter by oral supplements but by observing personal studies. I use supplements and foods to back the brain and body to perform physically/mentally demanding Jobs.

  • エミ

    June 27, 2022 at 1:07 am Reply

    I have inattentive adhd and take adderall. Once my brain and body adjusted , it literally just calms me and allows me to spark the circuit to start a task as simple as brushing my teeth to being able to start and engage in my hobbies for the first time in years. I couldn’t pick up a pen even though I wanted to journal. I couldn’t turn on my laptop even though I wanted to work on my wpm and typing accuracy. Now I get the spark to start these things and enjoy it without getting frustrated and fidgety about how I’m not perfect at it. This is the key that is missing with adhd. “I want to draw so bad but I’m not as good as I want to be so I won’t start a new drawing at all..maybe tomorrow.” Now my brain goes “let me see what I can do let me just try.”

    Then once I start I can focus. Calmly. And I see progress. It’s nice. I do sometimes get the stimulant affects of fast heart rate and excitability over small shit. If you aren’t sleeping ok or not eating your meals while taking these meds, you will get adverse effects mood swings and hazily focus on the wrong things. You will not feel good so Please be aware of that and take care!

  • Joseph Frombaugh

    June 28, 2022 at 1:09 am Reply

    I’ve tried a number of different nootropics, and all of them either didn’t really work or gave me side effects like headaches & stomach upsets.
    In the end, I decided I was not a big fan of nootropics. If you have ADD or some other disorder that affects your ability to concentrate these pills are not the answer; you need to work with a doctor to find a treatment plan that works for you including meds, dose & emotional support. If you’re just another Joe Average Intellectual looking for ways to boost your creativity like me, my advice would be to take up yoga or tai chi instead. In my experience, many of the underlying issues that normal people take nootropics for, such as low energy or brain fog, are often at least partly caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices.

  • BiohacksHQ

    July 30, 2022 at 7:29 pm Reply

    Nootropics are dietary supplements built to safely optimize cognition by manipulating cognitive functions in the brain. They help the brain operate more efficiently by filling in the gaps in our cognitive functions.

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