smart drug

Any drug or combination of nutrients (vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and sometimes herbs) said to enhance the functioning of the brain, increase mental energy, lengthen the span of attention, and improve the memory. As yet there is no scientific evidence to suggest that these drugs have any significant effect on healthy people.

Some smart drugs consist of food additives which are precursors of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Most, however, are experimental drugs devised by pharmaceutical companies to treat aspects of dementia, in particular, memory loss. The description is also applied to existing drugs claimed to improve mental performance but which are legally prescribed for other purposes. These include beta-blockers (prescribed for some heart disease), phenytoin (epilepsy), and L-dopa (Parkinson's disease).