Why we like that first coffee hit.
May 18th 2008 22:46
Signature Tune
From the Body Odd comes: There’s nothing earth-shattering or radical about the idea of “cognitive enhancers.” Caffeine and nicotine are two old-school boosters. Many studies have proven that both help maintain attention, heighten alertness and, of course, keep people awake. Research has also shown that caffeine possesses cognition-enhancing properties that can enhance higher cognitive functions like short- and long-term memory and perceptual sensitivity.
But a java jolt isn’t enough for those seeking the the new “smart drugs” or “nootropics,” many of which were originally developed to treat neurological or mental disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
“Two of the drugs which are now being used as cognitive enhancers, donepezil and tacrine were originally approved in the United States for treatment of Alzheimer's . A study published in the journal Neurology found that commercial pilots who took 5 milligrams of donepezil for one month performed better than pilots on a placebo when asked to fly a Cessna 172 on a flight simulator. There was a significant difference between the groups in the effectiveness with which they dealt with emergencies.
“Then there’s Ritalin, the drug of choice on college campuses for sleep-deprived students struggling to pull all-nighters, complete term papers, even boost concentration during exams.
“But as a “smart drug,” Ritalin may not be quite so smart. Never mind the fact that sharing prescription medicine is a felony drug offens in most states – taking excessively high doses of Ritalin can increase the risk for neurological and heart-related symptoms.
The current superstar of prescription stimulants is Provigil (Modafinil), first approved as a treatment for narcolepsy. A secondary indication was to treat something called Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD), a sleep disorder that affects people who frequently work schedules that resist the body’s natural Circadian rhythm, such as night shifts or rotating shifts. We both know doctors who regularly use Provigil.
Provigil can keep a person awake and alert for 90 hours straight, with none of the jitteriness, impaired concentration, “rebound effect,” or risk of addiction associated with amphetamines or even coffee.
Not surprisingly, Provigil is reportedly popular with the U.S. Air Force, and has been used more than 150 times this year by bomber crews to ward off fatigue on missions of more than 12 hours.
Barbara Sahakian, professor of neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge, who has conducted extensive research on Provigil has found that it results in greater concentration, faster learning and increased mental agility. "It may be the first real smart drug," she has said. "A lot of people will probably take [it]. I suspect they do already."
Provigil seems to safely bolster alertness for days at a time with few side effects, but its long-term effects have not been sufficiently studied to completely rule out all potential problems.
A couple of final points. We’re both fathers. When conversations turn to cognitive enhancers, the issue of “fairness” invariably comes up. For instance, do you want your kid taking the SATs and competing with a bunch of other kids who are tweaking on Provigil? Hopefully, we will have instilled in them an awareness of the profound difference between the ability to perform well on standardized tests and the capacity for intellectual discovery, innovation and creativity, and humane conduct.
Personally I do not like the idea of taking drugs for anything although it seems that caffeine in coffee is generally harmless enough. But see how the quest for one thing leads to another.
Are we just to become 'pill poppers' with no resources of our own.
It seems, other than in clearly identifiable illnesses, we are interfering in life well and beyond what should be required and in the interests of? Yes, generally big business and the $.
But I really did expect this to be all about coffee.
Some may be interested otherwise.
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Comment by tlcorbin
Coffee Quip
A Global Citizen
Paranormal Paranormal
Is Why
Alaska Chronicle
Sleezer's World
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art