First off, what are "nootropics" and what do they have to do with mental optimization? That is a fair question and the answer is simple and complex at the same time. Nootropics are substances or supplements that affect mental function and potentially, increasing mental capacity by optimizing brain chemistry.Why would people want to go though the trouble of researching, finding and taking these "smart drugs?" That's part of the conversation that I'm looking to engage in here.
I would bet that if you or I walked into a room of the smartest smart guys or gals that we know and asked a question about nootropics, we'd probably get more education that I can give you on this particular day. My guess is that a few of those highly intelligent individuals- scientists, programmers, mathematicians, physicists and physicians- may be among those that are dabbling in pursuit of surpassing their natural mental capacities. Whether that be through micro-dosing LSD or psilocybin and a mixture of other things, there is a plethora of theories and I'm hoping to cultivate a greater understanding of as many approaches as possible. This blog post is not meant to be a complete summary of nootropic substances or their efficacy. It is coming from a place of natural curiosity, as, I too, am intrigued by the ability expand my mental capacity and to overcome current mental obstacles.
Of the many reasons I'm personally invested in the study of nootropics, the first is an aging grandmother of 88 years and parents who aren't getting any younger. For these reasons, it is my intention to identify substances that are sought out by those looking to maximize their healthy brains and find out which of those substances are deficient in people with dementia or confusion in people of advanced age. Although this study is fairly new in the scope of modern medicine, I believe we know a great deal about brain chemistry and biology that simply needs to get pieced together. I should state here and now, that I am not a scientist, pharmacist, doctor or medical practitioner of any kind. I am not a person who submits to the correlation of credentials to the capacity to affect change, though. My aim here is to start a conversation and share some ideas that may some day culminate in the ability to allow loved ones to live without degradation in their mental capacity as they age. Gals and guys who are smarter than me, please feel free to step in and correct me or add to the conversation!
Some may question the idea of "defying nature" by reducing mental degradation of the aging population. I personally believe that, because people are living for so long due to medicine and technology, it is our duty to maintain the highest quality of life for as long as possible. Without getting too far into the potential causes of the deficiencies that many older people have, I think it is fair to say that there are commonalities in the nutrient deficiencies in our older populations. As people get older, many of them lose their appetites and as they eat less. While this loss of appetite isn't immediately alarming, I wonder, is there a possibility that the deficiencies in chemicals that are important for brain chemistry are an affect of the decreased food intake?
While we might not be able to force feed our dear granny all the nutrients she needs or (morally) feed her weed cookies so that she gets her appetite back, I have to wonder what would happen if we took care of our aging populations by feeding them foods that are enriched with the supplements that they're the most deficient in? Padding their juice with the minerals and amino acids that allow them to properly metabolize much needed fats and bolstering the frosting on their brownies with a touch of extra omega 3 rich oil couldn't hurt though, right? And what, then, would happen if we were to start slowly implementing supplements that are known to help boost the brain function in healthy brains?
At this point, I have more questions than answers, but that isn't a bad place to be. I'm reasonably confident that there's enough information to piece together a road map to begin giving greater quality lives to our aging populations. Beyond that, maybe we can help them and others expand their mental capacities through supplementation and lives of intentionality. If you've read this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read and invite you to share your thoughts in the comments. It is my intent to converge findings on research in patients with dementia and other age related cognitive impairments and intersect the science with the studies done on nootropic substances that may be able to be applied to solve the puzzle of age related mental degradation. I'm looking forward to the days, weeks, months and years to come and thank you in advance for your meaningful contributions.
