Cognition-enhancing drugs and applications to aging

Abstract

Recently, pharmacological research has shifted from pathophysiological causes of diseases associated with cognitive disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and schizophrenia, to cognitive enhancement potential of certain drugs in healthy individuals-“smart drugs”. Studies have shown that some of the current drugs for mental illness also show modest cognitive improvement in healthy individuals. The list of potential drugs that may enhance memory and/or attention is rather extensive, including substances acting on neurotransmitters, hormones, transduction systems, and brain perfusion and metabolism. While reports suggest that cognitive enhancers possess the potential to provide benefits in healthy population, their effectiveness and safety are still under investigation. Furthermore, age is a factor associated with cognition decline so the potential use of these drugs in healthy and young population could lower the rate of cognition decline with age. However, such drugs are often misused and abused. In this chapter, we will focus on the pharmacological properties of cognition-enhancing drugs and their safety profile, including current/potential clinical benefits and encouraging research strategies. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.