Nootropic
PharmacologyA broad, loosely-regulated category of substances marketed to enhance cognitive function — memory, focus, motivation, creativity — spanning everything from well-studied prescription drugs to supplements with thin or nonexistent clinical evidence behind them.
Example: Eugeroics like modafinil are sometimes described as nootropics, but the terms aren't interchangeable — "nootropic" is a marketing-driven umbrella category, while "eugeroic" describes a specific, mechanistically defined drug class. Microdosed psychedelics get marketed under the nootropic label too, despite the evidence base for cognitive enhancement being much thinner than for the underlying clinical indications.
What is a nootropic?
A broad, loosely-regulated category of substances marketed to enhance cognitive function — memory, focus, motivation, creativity — spanning everything from well-studied prescription drugs to supplements with thin or nonexistent clinical evidence behind them.
Is "nootropic" the same thing as "eugeroic"?
No — "nootropic" is a marketing-driven umbrella category, while "eugeroic" describes a specific, mechanistically defined drug class, even though eugeroics like modafinil are sometimes described as nootropics too.
Are microdosed psychedelics marketed as nootropics?
Yes, despite the evidence base for cognitive enhancement being much thinner than for the underlying clinical indications.