The Consensus: There Is Limited Evidence That Smart Drugs Boost Brain Power

As pressures to excel at school and work are on the rise, many people are turning to ‘smart drugs’ to improve their ability to focus and stay alert. Smart drugs are becoming increasingly popular – between 2015 and 2017 pharmaceutical nootropic usage rose from 5 to 23% in the UK. But is there scientific evidence that these substances actually enhance cognitive abilities? We asked 4 experts in psychology and pharmacology, ‘Can ‘smart drugs’ or nootropics boost brain power?’, here is what they said. This consensus is based on 4 experts answers from this question: Can ‘smart drugs’ or nootropics boost brain power?

What are smart drugs?

Nootropics, more commonly known as ‘smart drugs’, are substances which enhance cognitive functions (‘brain power’). Cognitive function is made up of many different aspects including memory, alertness, and decision-making. Professor Timo Partonen, an expert in psychology from Helsinki University in Finland, says that “no single medication augments every cognitive function, and some might enhance one but impair another cognitive function.”

Perhaps the most widely used nootropic is caffeine, which increases alertness. However, its effects are transient, so some people turn to Modafinil, a medication for narcolepsy, to keep them awake. In order to focus for long periods of time, for example when studying for exams, ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall are commonly used. In the UK, these drugs are illegal unless prescribed, but many nootropics are available for purchase online, and some university students fake ADHD symptoms in order to get a prescription from their doctor.

Aside from pharmaceuticals, there is a huge market of supplements that claim to boost brain power. These are legally available over the counter and online.

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What is the evidence that smart drugs boost brain power?

Professor Timothy Hales, an expert in pharmacology from Dundee University in Scotland, says “so called smart drugs are used medically to treat individuals who suffer from cognitive impairment or have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]. There is research evidence for these prescribed drugs being effective in improving cognitive performance in these circumstances. When it comes to the use of smart drugs to improve cognitive performance in individuals without impairment there is much less data available, and the benefits are likely to be negligible.”

There are some studies which have measured cognitive enhancing effects of smart drugs. For example, one study gave Modafinil or placebo to sleep-deprived doctors and found that Modafinil improved the doctors’ planning and decision-making abilities. However, research
into the use of prescription medications as nootropics is limited.

The evidence for non-prescription supplements is very weak. A 2015 meta-analysis of 24 trials which looked at the effects of brain supplements found that they had no effect on healthy adults. These supplements often include nutrients which can be much more easily (and cheaply) obtained from a healthy diet. Brain supplements are not tightly regulated, which means claims made on the label are often not met. Professor Joseph Paul Forgas, an expert in psychology from NSW University in Australia, summarises that “There is no reliable scientific evidence for the effectiveness of ‘smart drugs’.. advertising claims for these drugs are mostly misleading.”

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What are the potential downsides to smart drugs?

Whilst over the counter brain supplements are unlikely to have any brain-boosting abilities, they are also unlikely to be dangerous. This is not the case for prescription drugs such as Modafinil, Adderall and Ritalin. Professor Hales says “the potential harms of taking psychoactive medications that have not been prescribed are clear from the literature.” Studies looking at the long-term effects of ADHD medication found that they may actually increase inattention, meaning patients may require higher doses in the future to deal with their symptoms.

Buying illegal drugs online is always dangerous because it is not regulated. Dr Mauro Tettamanti, an expert in pharmacology from the Mario Negri Institute in Italy, says “be aware that any kind of drug, licit, illicit, “natural” or synthetic, can have immediate and/or delayed adverse effects, from mild to very severe”

Apart from negative health effects, smart drugs also come with many ethical and social issues. In 2017, 10-15% of university students in the UK used prescription or illegal drugs to aid their studies. These students are likely to have felt that they had to take drastic measures to keep up with their workloads. If smart drugs become commonplace, this pressure is likely to increase, as everyone might be expected to produce high-quality output 24/7.

Professor Partonen highlights that “there is a key question whether a healthy person needs medication for cognition after all.”

The takeaway: Taking medication that is not prescribed to you is dangerous, and over the counter brain supplements can be easily replaced by a healthy diet.

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