Gentlemen.
For me, one of the most harmful and insidious aspects of getting older is the decline in
cognitive function.
You know, the “senior moment”?
The deteriorating memory.
The diminishing focus.
Dwindling motivation.
It’s like, sometimes your brain is just…operating at a diminished capacity.
And guess what?
It is!
But it doesn’t have to be.
This is Lance Hitchings, and I created this channel to be a record of everything that
I’ve learned on my quest to turn back the clock.
And not only what I’ve learned, but the plans I made as a result of what I learned
and the results that I achieved through the implementation of those plans.
I’ve created a new series of videos that focuses that lens on the subject of nootropics,
which are a class of supplements that have been developed to improve cognitive function.
In today’s video, the first in the series of 3, I’m going to a bit about the brain
and how it functions, then introduce the subject of nootropics, give a little history, talk
a bit about how the brain works and some of the benefits of taking nootropics.
In the next 2 videos, I’ll talk about neurotransmitters and their role in mental function, the different
types of nootropics, how to take nootropics, and what results I’ve gotten from taking
nootropics.
So, let’s jump in by talking about how the brain functions.
When people talk about “brain cells”, they’re talking about neurons.
Neurons are electrically excitable cells that process and transmit information through electro-chemical
signaling.
Unlike the other cells in our bodies, neuron never divide and they don’t die off to be
replace by new ones.
And they typically can’t be replaced after being lost.
There are about 100 billion neurons in the average human brain, and each neuron has the
capacity to connect to up to 10,000 other neurons.
This connection takes the form of a synapse, and there are as many as a quadrillion synaptic
connections in the brain.
That’s a thousand trillion.
The brain is a very malleable organ.
It constantly adapts to external influences.
It creates new synapses, new pathways for processing information.
It re-wires itself, in a process called synaptogenesis, which is not only the creation of new synapses
but also the maintenance of existing synapses.
Synaptogenisis is just part of an ability called neuroplasticity, and our brain’s
retain this ability to create new synapses throughout our entire lives.
But as we age, the brain’s plasticity begins to diminishe.
It’s less able to create new synapses or pathways.
In fact, some pathways collapse.
Synapses slow down or stop firing.
And cognitive function is impaired.
Enter…nootropics.
In simple terms, nootropics are synthetic compounds that improve cognitive function
in healthy individuals.
You may or may not remember the movie “Limitless”, starring Bradley Cooper, or be familiar with
the TV show based on the movie…but they’re both about people who raise they cognitive
abilities to extraordinary heights by using a mysterious drug called NZT.
And while NZT may be pure fantasy, it’s may not be that far away.
And there are supplements that you can take that claim to improve your cognitive function.
These supplements belong to a class of chemical compounds called “Nootropics”.
The term “nootropic” is derived from the prefix noo, meaning “of the mind”, and
the medical suffix tropic, meaning “to turn either away from or towards a stimulus”,
and was coined in 1972 by the Romanian chemist, Corneliu Giurgea to describe compounds that
could “turn the mind”.
Also known as smart drugs or cognitive enhancers, these drugs, supplements or other substances
may improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity or
motivation.
However, a word of caution here.
There are a bunch of different substances that are purported to enhance cognitive function
but the research is still in preliminary stages, and the effects of a lot of these substances
is not fully determined.
We’re not talking about something that will effect the way that you feel, but rather the
way that your mind functions.
And that can be really hard to perceive, especially if it’s not a really large increase.
When your brain works better, it feels so natural that it’s hard to notice.
Back in 2008 the primary class of drugs in use was stimulants, such as caffeine.
But then college students started diverting ADHD stimulants, such as Ritalin, and they
used these drugs, not recreationally, but rather to enhance their academic performance.
And thus began the quest for substances that can enhance human cognition…such as the
fabled NZT.
And for the aging male, these substances can be of importance, as we see our cognitive
functions in decline.
And I’m not talking about Alzheimer's here.
I’m taking about the simple decline in memory, in focus, in executive function.
I’m really lucky, there’s no history of Alzheimer’s or any type of senility in my
family history, on either side.
As far as I know.
But I’ve definitely seen a loss of memory and focus in the last 10 or 20 years.
And trying to get some of that back is of primary concern to most aging men.
Now, as I’ve said, research is still in the preliminary stages and the effects of
a lot of these substance are not yet fully determined.
So all I can do is to share with you my own experience of nootropics and tell you about
the results that I feel I've achieved.
While there’s no formal criteria for what qualifies as a nootropic, Dr. Giurgea felt
that for any substance to be called a nootropic it must enhance memory and learning ability,
it must help the brain function under disruptive conditions, it must protect the brain from
harmful chemical damage, it must improve neuronal firing mechanisms, and it must lack any sedative,
stimulant or toxic effects.
So, given all of this, it’s not too difficult to imagine why an aging man might want to
take nootropics.
There are a lot of reasons, and a lot of potential benefits, why someone might choose to explore
this class of supplements.
They might be looking for a boost in drive and motivation, in the ability to get things
done and finish important tasks.
Recently, nootropics have been used in pre-workout shakes to provide that extra motivation to
ensure that exercises get performed in a way to take advantage of their full potential.
They might be looking for an improvement in clarity, focus and attention.
Attention underlies many other cognitive functions, and nootropics may help with several different
aspects of attention, improving focused attention, selective attention, alternating attention
and divided attention.
They might be looking for an increase in their memory and their ability to learn, and retain,
new material.
Nootropics can improve both short-term and long-term memory, as well as free recall.
They can optimize performance-oriented memory functions and help with age-related memory
issues.
Perhaps they’re looking to improve their mood.
Nootropics can boost the feeling of mental wellbeing by acting as anxiety aids, anti-depressants
and mood enhancers.
Or the might be looking for a boost in the social abilities.
Nootropics can provide benefits in confidence, extroversion and verbal fluidity, making them
ideal of public speaking, presentations and any social activity.
Nootropics can also fuel energy consumption in the brain, boosting performance and reducing
brain fatigue.
They can reduce stress and improve sleep.
Now, these are all short-term benefits, but nootropics have a number of long-term benefits
that make them particularly attractive.
They can protect against the aging effects of free radicals.
They can deliver neuroprotective benefits, stimulating the generation of new neurons
and overall supporting brain health by improving brain resilience, neuroplasicity and neurogenesis.
From my point of view, nootropics are worth learning about and worth exploring.
There’s just so many potential benefits.
And there’s a lot to learn, and a vast array of different types of nootropics, with different
benefits.
In the next video, I’ll be going into a lot of the different types of nootropic, and
listing the benefits of each.
I’ll also discuss the different neurotransmitters, the role that they play in cognition and the
effects that nootropics have on them.
In the final video in this series, I’ll wrap it up by getting into how to take nootropics,
and I’ll talk about the results that I’ve achieved from taking nootropics.
If you enjoyed this video, then please subscribe to my channel, share it with your friends
an on your social media, hit the like button and leave a comment.
And be sure to hit the bell button to be notified when I post a new video, which should be every
Tuesday, with bonus videos on the occasional Friday.
And as always, thanks for watching.
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