NOOTROPIC
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Nootropics are known by a lot of names including but not limited neuroenhancers, smart drugs, cognitive enhancers and memory enhancers. They could be referred to as functional foods, supplements, drugs, and neutraceticals. According to various research that have been carried out, nootropics have been proven to influence various facets that entail the functioning of the brain including motivation, attention as well as working memory (Page, 2013). Dr. Cornelius E Giurgea, a Romanian national, is the one who is credited with discovering and consequently naming the drug. Nootropics are legal drugs that can be acquired over the counter without necessarily requiring a prescription. The purpose of this paper is to establish the benefits of using the nootropics to the brain.
Pharmacological Effects of Nootropics
Nootropics have been shown to possess many different pharmacological influences according to wide-ranging studies that have been conducted on their mechanisms of action (PubMed, 2012). They possess different mechanisms of action and none of these mechanisms is principal among all of them. Nevertheless, the whole nootropic class impacts the functions of cholines. Certain receptors, nicotinic and muscarinic receptors, receive different actions from acetylcholines whose production is influenced when nootropics enhance the uptake of choline.
In a human being with advanced age, there exists an acute shortage of acetylcholine. Piracetam re-establishes the level of acetylcholine by 30-40% by increasing the receptors of acetylcholoine at the anterior cortex.
The survival of the brain is principally dependent on ATP, which must be generated by the brain cells. As a result, those cells manufacture the energy by metabolizing glucose as well as oxygen. However, this metabolism may be inhibited by a condition known as dementia. The level of this impairment is directly associated with the scale of seriousness of the disorder. Piracetam uses an alternative way, which entails breaking down AMP into ADP and ATP when it enhances the activity of the enzyme adenylate kinase, to produce the vital fuel for the brain cells. Thus, cells that are lacking in oxygen are saved and the progression of dementia is checked.
Other effects that are influenced by nootropics include improved flow of blood to the cerebrum, enhancing the rate of metabolism of the oxygen that is utilized in the brain, as well as increased metabolism of glucose in certain disorders that occur within the brain.
It scales down the cluster of blood platelets as well as improving haemorrheological effects. Furthermore, it increases the fluidity of membranes through attaching to their phospholipids. Moreover, it still has a host of other effects such as improving the function of red blood cells, ensures that sickle cell and damaged red blood cells are less attached to endothelium, increases the metabolism of phospholipids and enhances the biosynthesis of proteins.
According to studies Levetiracetam has been shown to act as an agent that inhibits occurrence of epileptic episodes. It does this by reducing the conductance of high voltage activated calcium. The action of this nootropic has been proposed to regulate the cushioning of calcium as well as mechanisms of transport. It further has some potential in the neuroprotection field.
In addition to the above discussed drugs, there are other notroopics that have profound effects in the brain. Increased concentration span, increase flow of blood to the brain cells, reduction of pains as well as managing conditions such as Alzheimas are just some of these effects.
References
Page, S. (2013). Nootropics : Enhancing Your Brain Power with Supplements. Harlem, NY: Oxford University Press.
NOOTROPICS 2
