If you’ve ever put in long hours studying for final exams or perfecting a presentation for a client, you’ve probably found yourself wishing for an extra jolt of brain power. Nootropics are often touted as a way to help with that. Nicknamed “brain boosters” or “smart drugs,” they’re typically substances that purport to improve brain performance.
This cognitive boost is meant to be above our normal baseline, explains Dr. Scott Small, professor of neurology and Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Columbia University. Different parts of the brain govern different cognitive abilities, such as memory, abstract reasoning, decision making, and speed of processing. Nootropics are intended to target these areas, he tells Fortune.
