There are all kinds of things that happen to your body as you age. Most of it is common knowledge, and for the most part, it’s out of your control since it’s a natural process. But one thing that you may be able to have some control over, or at least slow the decline of, is your cognitive abilities and skills. There has been lots of research carried out on cognitive decline associated with age, with it affecting such things as memory, vocabulary, processing speed, and conceptual reasoning. The question isn’t whether the evidence is real; instead, it’s what can people do about it? Can they slow it down or stop it?
One option that some people are turning to is nootropics. Can nootropics help in terms of cognitive aging? Here’s a closer look.
What are Nootropics?
If you’ve never heard of nootropics before, this is a term used to describe products that may have a positive impact on a person’s mental skills. It can be a synthetic or natural nootropic, and they are divided into three categories which are prescription drugs, synthetic compounds or dietary supplements. They are sometimes referred to as “smart drugs” since they can boost your brain’s performance.
If a person takes prescription nootropics, it will act as a stimulant. They can be used in people that have Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD or narcolepsy since they can enhance the brain’s performance.
Outside of prescription nootropics, other substances that fall into the umbrella term are creatine and caffeine. Each has an impact on mental functions such as memory and critical thinking.
Can Nootropics Slow Down Cognitive Aging?
This leads to the big question: can nootropics slow down cognitive aging? It would be great to have a solid and clear answer, but the truth is that reality is a bit more skewed. Take for example a prescription nootropic meant to help with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. In this case, it can be quite helpful. But remember, this is a prescription-grade product and it’s targeting a very specific disease and its symptoms.
Many nootropic products can be purchased without a prescription and can be better suited to those who are experiencing a “normal” level of cognitive aging and haven’t been diagnosed with something such as Alzheimer’s disease.
How to Find the Right Nootropics to Take
If you want to take nootropics in a supplement form, it comes down to the ingredients, how much of each ingredient there is (the potency), the dosing schedule and how your body will react to it. When comparing popular nootropics be sure to look for both the pros and cons so you get a complete picture.
Some will contain ingredients that claim to help with speeding up problem-solving skills, enhancing cognitive performance, boosting mental processing power and helping provide a calmer clear state of mind. The fact is that everyone reacts differently to supplements, so one person may have exceptional results while the next person may only notice limited benefits.
Some key ingredients to watch for that could offer benefits include:
- L-theanine
- L-Tyrosine
- Chocamine
- B vitamins
- Caffeine
- Ginkgo biloba
- Racetams
Be sure to also look for supplements that have been made by a trusted and reputable company that uses high-quality ingredients. While non-prescription nootropics are thought to be relatively safe, you do want to be sure it doesn’t interact with any other medications you may take.
The good news is that getting older doesn’t mean your memory has to decline. There are many things you can do to slow down the process, such as eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, engaging in word-based games and puzzles, continuing to learn new skills and potentially looking into nootropics.
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