Neuroscientists say there has been a recent rise in the number of students using so-called 鈥渟mart drugs,鈥� which makers claim boost energy and increase focus.
The drugs, such as Ritalin and Modafinil, are prescribed legitimately to some patients, but can be purchased illegally online, for example.
But do they work? And are they safe?
New York-based neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning that the pill makers claim they are 鈥渃ognitive enhancers,鈥� and have become 鈥渁ll the rage鈥� among students and the tech community in Silicon Valley.
鈥淎 lot of people think they鈥檙e a substitute for something like Adderall,鈥� Hafeez said in an interview on Tuesday, referring to the medication typically used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
A 2015 study conducted by the Harvard Medical School and the University of Oxford found that Modafinial did indeed improve cognitive skills that involved complex task.
But Hafeez says the research on the drugs 鈥渋s not very sound,鈥� and she鈥檚 urging potential consumers to be 鈥渃areful鈥� about what they鈥檙e putting into their bodies.
鈥淭he average consumer is not looking into the research or the actual study behind the claims,鈥� she said.
Hafeez, who is clinic director of Comprehensive Consultations Psychological Services says the research behind smart drugs is 鈥渧ery misleading,鈥� particularly because the populations being tested are 鈥渘ot reflective of the average population.鈥�
A common ingredient in so-called smart drugs, Hafeez said, has been shown to reduce forgetfulness, but in Alzheimer鈥檚 patients. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not true for you and me.鈥�
Some of the ingredients common to the smart drugs are not necessarily harmful, Hafeez says, including some which are 鈥渂asically caffeine.鈥� In small dosages, she said, 鈥渁ll that it鈥檚 really doing is keeping you awake, more alert.鈥�
But others are 鈥渟erious substances鈥� that are controlled by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S.
So in some places, these drugs have been seized, because they have ingredients that should be regulated by government agencies but are being put as trace amounts or significant amounts into these smart drugs,鈥� Hafeez said, adding the average consumer should not be taking them unprescribed.
There are many 鈥渟mart drugs鈥� currently available on the market, in varying levels of legality and with varied natural or engineered chemical compositions.
The drugs are often a 鈥渟upplement blend,鈥� Hafeez said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know what the blend has, so you have to be really careful.鈥�
Besides, Hafeez said, there is no pill that will enhance cognitive function.
鈥淲hat research has shown to be effective, more so, is exercise that improves your cardiovascular health,鈥� Hafeez said.
She added that getting outside your comfort zone, learning a new language and multitasking have been shown to increase memory and attention as well as cognitive function.
鈥淚f you want to improve cognitive functioning, a good night鈥檚 sleep does more for you than a pill that you can pop,鈥� she said.
鈥淏ecause if it was that easy, we鈥檇 all be Einsteins.鈥�
