Nootropics
Most nootropics are overpriced placebos riding a wave of Silicon Valley hype. The market is flooded with proprietary blends that hide behind pseudo-scientific language while delivering sub-therapeutic doses of compounds with minimal human trial data. We think that deserves more scrutiny.
These articles separate the compounds with real clinical evidence from those built entirely on marketing. We cover established nootropics like creatine monohydrate (which has robust evidence for cognitive performance beyond its role in exercise) alongside newer compounds like magnesium L-threonate, the only magnesium form shown to cross the blood-brain barrier in MIT research published in Neuron.
We examine the mechanisms behind cognitive enhancement: cholinergic signaling, BDNF expression, dopamine metabolism, and neuroplasticity. Each compound is evaluated on the strength of its evidence: multiple RCTs, single trials, animal studies only, or purely theoretical. We are explicit about which tier each falls into.
Topics include caffeine and L-theanine stacking, racetam pharmacology, the actual evidence for lion's mane neurogenesis claims, and long-term cognitive protection strategies that go beyond daily supplementation.
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The Outlive Protocol: Supplements
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Frequently asked questions
What is the most effective nootropic with proven research?
Caffeine remains the most well-studied cognitive enhancer, with reliable effects on attention, reaction time, and alertness. Beyond caffeine, creatine monohydrate has surprisingly strong evidence for cognitive performance, particularly under conditions of sleep deprivation or mental fatigue. For long-term neuroprotection, magnesium L-threonate is the most promising newer compound, based on MIT research showing it crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Are nootropic stacks safe to take daily?
It depends entirely on the specific compounds. Caffeine plus L-theanine is well-studied and generally safe for daily use. Proprietary blends with unknown doses of multiple stimulants are a different story. The key is knowing exactly what you are taking, at what dose, and whether there is any evidence for chronic use. Most nootropic marketing ignores the long-term safety question entirely.
Do nootropics actually make you smarter?
No compound will increase your baseline intelligence. What certain nootropics can do is optimize the neurochemical conditions for focus, working memory, and processing speed, effectively removing bottlenecks rather than expanding capacity. The effect is more like cleaning a dirty windshield than upgrading the engine.