Smart drugs, even authentic and high-quality ones such as those you can purchase here https://www.bestnootropicsnow.com/, have varying effects on the cognitive functions of users. For instance, a type of racetam may improve the focus of one user while another user may experience better mental clarity with the same racetam. This makes determining the best smart drugs for memory a very challenging, if not an impossible undertaking. This is because that even though the use of smart drugs has been around for decades, studies on their effectiveness and mechanisms of actions remain limited.
Long-time users of smart drugs, who prefer to call such substances as nootropics or noots, are well aware of their varying effect. For one, you will need time and patience to experience the effects of some of the more popular nootropics. This is the main reason why veteran noot users “stack” several nootropics to enjoy the various cognitive enhancements that the different smart drugs will provide them. An example of a stack would be piracetam for memory, choline to improve focus and for its anti-anxiety effects and omega-3 oils for their neuroprotective properties. This same stack though will likely not have the same effect for all users.
Is there still a way to determine which smart drug is the best for memory and memory retention? Possibly, but to do so, this discussion needs to review what nootropics are.
Nootropics 101
The word “nootropic” refers to supplements, drugs and any other substances that improve the cognitive functions of the brain. Among these functions include memory, mental clarity, focus, concentration, spatial awareness, logical reasoning and articulacy.
The practice of supplementing with nootropics has been around since the 1970s. However, its use has been largely confined only to a small number of enthusiasts. Nootropic use started to gain some traction around 2010 when its number of proponents started to increase. Sales of nootropics reached $1 billion worldwide in 2015 as demand for these supplements continues to grow.
It is interesting to note that the word nootropic itself came from the developer of the first of these substances, Dr. Corneliu Giurgea. The word is a combination of the Greek words “nous,” which means mind and “trepein,” meaning bend. Dr. Giurgea likewise established the standard of how a substance can qualify as a nootropic. According to Dr. Giurgea, a nootropic should pass the following criteria:
- The substance should be able to improve memory.
- The memory that a nootropic user retains should be resistant to brain trauma, whether physical or chemical.
- The substance should increase the efficiency of the tonic cortical and subcortical mechanisms.
- The substance should have minimal side effects and should not be toxic.
Because the father of nootropics himself initially intended for nootropics to improve memory, it will be fitting to select the best smart drugs for memory using the standards that he established. This list of the best smart drugs for memory will also take into consideration the other beneficial effects of some smart drugs that can contribute to improving memory retention. These include the ability to improve focus, reduce anxiety, boost mental clarity and promote brain health.
Best Smart Drugs for Memory
Piracetam
Piracetam is the granddaddy of all nootropics and its developer, Dr. Giurgea laid the foundation for what a smart drug should be. The doctor sets the criteria for nootropics using piracetam as a template. Its inclusion in this list, however, was not out of sentimentality. Despite being the first of its kind, piracetam still has many users these days who swear by its effectiveness.
Among the loyal users of piracetam is Rick Rosner, one of the only few documented ultra-high IQ individuals today with an IQ level of 194. Rosner stacks piracetam along with l-theanine, coffee and fish oils, which he says help improves his memory. One of the very few downsides to piracetam is that its users say that you need to self-administer it for months before its effects become noticeable. Users often stack it with another entry on this list, which is choline.
Phenylpiracetam
There are several other racetams that could have also made it to this list and users will very likely prefer one over the other. Phenylpiracetam is in this list for two reasons: one is for its potency, and the other is for its ability to enhance physical performance. This ability of phenylpiracetam was not lost on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which made them consider this racetam as a performance-enhancing drug along with steroids and stimulants. Competitive athletes, therefore, may want to look at other racetams for cognitive enhancement.
Phenylpiracetam is more than 50 times more potent than piracetam. Like other racetams, regular use of this compound can lead to improved memory, better mental clarity and focus and extra mental energy. It does have some side effects, and these include dizziness, insomnia, irritability and upset stomach.
Choline
The inclusion of choline in this list of the best smart drugs for memory is because it is a precursor to acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter. Our brain needs choline to synthesize this neurotransmitter, which is neurotransmitter is important in various cognitive processes, including memory formation, retention and retrieval. It is true that there are types of food that are rich choline such as eggs. However, choline that you derive from food has very poor bioavailability. You cannot absorb it properly and efficiently.
A workaround for the poor bioavailability of food-derived choline is to supplement with it instead. Note that choline supplements are also not the same. Cheap types of choline such as those that come in bitartrate and citrate forms have poor bioavailability. For better absorption, go with Citicoline and Alpha GPC. You’ll get the best results from choline if you stack it along with your primary nootropic. Note that choline supplementation can give some users a fishy odor and too much of it can cause depression.
Noopept
This is one of the most popular nootropics around. One of the reasons for its popularity is its potency, which many believe to be approximately 1,000 times stronger than piracetam. Due to its potency, even first-time users notice the immediate Noopept benefits such as sudden mental clarity and increased visual clarity. Some describe the “rush” as seeing the world via a VGA monitor and then suddenly shifting to a high-definition screen.
Since Noopept is a peptide derived from the racetam family, it gives you the same benefits as piracetam, only stronger. Among these benefits are increased memory retention, faster recall, enhanced brain energy, improved ability to learn and learn quickly and a sharpened focus. Noopept does have side effects, and these include a nagging low-level headache that lasts for days, mental fatigue once its effects subside, nausea and upset stomach.
There are other notable nootropics that did not quite make it to this list such as other racetams and ampakines, which are even more potent Noopept. However, their effectiveness has a lesser effect on memory improvement and more on other cognitive functions. Ampakines have worse side effects like massive headaches and brain fog, both of which have detrimental effects on memory.