What does it mean? Smart drugs, also known as nootropics, are brain-boosting drugs that are becoming increasingly popular in schools and colleges as a way of improving academic performance. The drugs were originally designed to help people with cognitive difficulties, such as sufferers of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. They are thought to work by altering the brain's supply of neurochemicals by improving its oxygen supply or by stimulating nerve growth. This leads to improvements in cognition, memory, intelligence, motivation, attention and concentration. However, the improvements only last while the drug is in the bloodstream and the risks of taking such brain-boosters include heart, liver and kidney failure.
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