Fabrizio Schifano, Stefania Bonaccorso, Davide Arillotta, John Martin Corkery, Giuseppe Floresta, Gabriele Duccio Papanti Pelletier, Amira Guirguis
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Whilst "nootropics" are meant to treat a range of medical disorder-related cognitive impairments, the typically healthy "smart drugs" user ingests a range of drugs/molecules to achieve improved mental performance. Given the increasing levels of related concerns, this study aimed to provide an overview of the clinical pharmacological issues relating to both the most popular nootropics and the vast range of drugs that are being used as putative cognitive enhancers/smart drugs. In terms of the cognitive decline associated with neurological degenerative disorders, a significant variation in research methodology was observed. Therefore, the overall usefulness of these pharmaceuticals in various central nervous system disorders as supplements/adjuvant therapy needs to be better established before their widespread use can be recommended. The most popular smart drugs, self-administered to cope with high-perceived stress and academic/work-related pressure, were methylphenidate, modafinil, amphetamine-based compounds, and psychedelics. At present, however, there are relevant levels of uncertainty in terms of smart drugs' effectiveness in improving executive functions. Addressing the health harms associated with cognitive enhancers' intake remains challenging due to the lack of updated and contextualized epidemiological data. In particular, there appears to be a range of clinical concerns relating to the non-prescribed intake of stimulant smart drugs by otherwise healthy individuals. Enhanced training for prescribers, pharmacists, and healthcare professionals can strengthen monitoring and early intervention efforts.
期刊介绍：
Biology (ISSN 2079-7737) is an international, peer-reviewed, quick-refereeing open access journal of Biological Science published by MDPI online. It publishes reviews, research papers and communications in all areas of biology and at the interface of related disciplines. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. There is no restriction on the length of the papers. The full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Electronic files regarding the full details of the experimental procedure, if unable to be published in a normal way, can be deposited as supplementary material.
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