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Smart Drugs & Nutrients:

How to Improve Your Memory and Increase Your Intelligence Using the Latest Discoveries In Neuroscience

VOLUME 1 in the Smart Drugs Series

by Ward Dean, M.D. & John Morgenthaler
$12.95 - 224 pages, softcover (Out of Stock)

• Table of Contents
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Section 1: Introduction

Science is changing our understanding of the human brain and of human intelli­gence. There is a whole new concept of what intelligence is and why some people are more intelligent than others. Scien­tists no longer believe that our intelli­gence is determined strictly by genetics. The concept of a fixed intelli­gence is a limiting belief and turns out to be untrue. Now we know that you can develop and increase your intelligence.

There is good reason to do so.

As we are exposed to a world of constant­ly increasing complexity and competition, faced with the information explosion and sensory overload, memory sharpness and increased thinking ability become imperative. People no longer do the same job for their entire lives. Many career paths require that people continue to educate themselves. Some professions require regular testing to establish that professional people are staying abreast of new developments. A corporation may be structured so that employees must compete intellectually for promotions and raises. The competition in these situations is every bit as real and intense as the competition on the playing fields. We believe that more and more business people and scholars are look­ing for the kind of "edge" that athletes get from science.

Science tells us that you can increase your intellectual abilities when you practice mental exercises (Bandler, 1985), when you do certain sensorimotor exercises (Ayres, 1989, Feldenkrais, 1985), or if you live in an enriched environment (Diamond, 1988). Research also shows that you may increase your intelligence by taking certain sub­stances that have recently been shown to improve learning, memory, and concentration.

This book is an introductory guide to the use of this excit­ing new technology: drugs and nutrients that can increase your brain power and improve your memory, concentration, and ability to learn. There are dozens of substances that have been demonstrated to improve animal and human intelli­gence. In this book we present a practical guide as to how the most widely tested and potentially benefi­cial of these substances are being used.

We describe how others have used these smart drugs and nutrients for improved exam-taking ability, better job performance and increased productivity. We cover their use in delaying age-related intelligence decrease (including dealing with senility), and helping to deal with memory problems resulting from alcohol, tobacco, or drug abuse.

Our book is organized so that you can easily decide which of the drugs and nutrients might be of interest. The index can be used to look up symp­toms or complaints as a quick way of finding smart drugs and nutrients of interest to you. For example, if you have a problem with fatigue, you can look that up in the index to find sections which might help you.

Some of the effects which have been reported from taking smart drugs and nutrients include:
1. Increased alertness, mental energy, and concentration.
2. Increased ability to concentrate for longer periods of time.
3. Increased ability to memorize material.
4. Greater productivity, organization, and planning ability.
5. Improved verbal memory.
6. Improved problem‑solving ability.
7. Alleviation of depression.
8. Improved overall health.
9. Improved sexual performance.

If you are planning to use any of the smart drugs and nutrients we discuss to assist you in taking tests or examinations, we suggest that you carefully read the section titled The Use of Cerebroactive Substances. In addition, we strongly recommend that you consult a qualified physician before using smart drugs.

Some of the substances we write about can be obtained from your health food store. Others must be prescribed by a physician, and some of the newer, most effective smart drugs are only available overseas. In Appendix A (see page 165) we list some overseas mailorder sources for many of these compounds. We also have included some so new that they are not yet commercially available.

Smart Drugs & Nutrients will be useful to virtually anyone who uses their brain. Physicians who practice preventive medicine or who treat patients with memory or other neurological disorders will benefit from it, as it contains informa­tion that is not readily available elsewhere.

Finding A Physician

We urge anyone who wants to use smart drugs to do so under the supervision of a physician. Unfortunately, in our current legal climate, many physicians are unwilling to venture beyond the narrow limits of their training. Some physicians will discourage the experimental use of cognition‑enhancing substances, regardless of their overwhelming record of safety.

If your physician is not aware of the potential of smart drugs, and is not willing to investigate this new science, we recommend that you contact the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) or the Huxley Institute for Biosocial Research for the name of a physician in your area. ACAM's number is (714) 583 7666 or (800) 532 3688. The Huxley Institute's number is (407) 393 6167 or (800) 847 3802. These physicians are among the most innovative physician-scientists in the world, and can probably provide you with appropriate guidance.

We also recommend that you fill out the yellow reader-response card at the front of this book and send it to us along with a self-addressed stamped envelope so we can send you our own list of physicians knowledgeable about smart drugs. (Physicians: please send your name, address, and a short description of your practice to be added to our list.) We will keep your address on file to keep you informed about additions to our directory of physicians, new editions of this book, and new resources for intelligence enhancement.

We strongly recommend that you also subscribe to Smart Drug News when you send in the yellow card.

Sharing Knowledge

This field of research is exploding. We know that we have not been able to find all of the important intelligence increasing materials. We know that even though we searched the largest computer database in the world, we have missed some important data about the substances we do write about. If we have left out a drug or nutrient that you know increases intelligence, or if we have overlooked critical data about the cerebroactive materials included in this book, please write to us as soon as possible with your experienc­es or references.

We would also like to hear about your experiences with smart drugs and nutrients. This information will be included (anonymously) in Smart Drugs II and our newsletter. The yellow reader response card at the front of this book has space for your comments, or you can send us a letter outlining your experiences. Please send your stories to:

Q&A Section
Smart Drug News
P.O. Box 4029
Menlo Park, CA 94026

Age‑Related Mental Decline

In other countries, diseases such as Alzheimer's, Korsakoff's syndrome, organic brain syndrome, and non‑Alzheimer's senility are treated with drugs that are not available here. Other substances that are available in the U.S. have shown some efficacy against these diseases, but doctors here may be unfamiliar with the research.

Decline of mental capicity with normal aging, age-related mental decline (ARMD), senile dimentia, and Alzheimer's disease. (Redrawn from Age-Related Mental Decline and Dementias, The Place of Hydergine, Sandoz product literature booklet.)

At this time it is difficult to predict which people with senility will show positive results. In some of the studies we cite, individuals have exhibited remarkable improve­ment with a single drug or combination of drugs. We believe that individual biochemical differences may cause the inconsistency of results. In other words, each individual showing signs of senility may respond to a unique combi­nation of drugs. Although shotgun‑type drug combinations may be beneficial for one person, the same combination might adversely affect someone else. Thus, it is essential to work with a knowledgeable physician. Use this book's index and the section titled The Use of Cerebroactive Compounds to custom-design a combination drug program for the person with senility. Start as soon as possible. The sooner the treatment is begun, the greater is the likelihood of beneficial results.

Age‑related decrease in the number of neurons in the olivary nucleus of the brain stem in humans. (Redrawn from Age‑Related Mental Decline and Dementias, The Place of Hydergine, Sandoz product literature booklet.)

Recreational Drugs and Mental Decline

Regular users of alcohol, cigarettes, and other recreational drugs such as cocaine or marijuana often complain of declining mental functioning. Alcoholics and pot users often have problems with short‑term memory loss. Cigarettes also adverse­ly affect mental functioning by greatly reducing the oxygen supply to the brain by causing not only short-term vasoconstriction, but also by tying up red blood cells with carbon monoxide (greatly reducing the oxygen capacity of the blood). This leads to premature atherosclerosis, as well as a compensatory increase in the number of red blood cells. This causes "thicker" blood, further worsening blood flow and oxygen delivery. Cocaine abusers often lose their ability to concentrate. This is particularly ironic since many people begin using cocaine for its ability to help the user concentrate for long periods of time. Chronic abuse, however, brings on paradoxical effects. The drugs and nutrients listed in this book can be of great help in combatting the deleterious effects of "recreational" drugs. However, we strongly discourage the use of illegal or legal recreational drugs, including coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol.

Smart Drug Newsletter

You can keep your finger on the pulse of new smart drugs research by subscribing to Smart Drug News, a newsletter published by the Cognition Research Enhancement Institute (CERI). You'll find more information about the newsletter in Appendix E of this book on page 185.

About The Scientific References

Every assertion we make in this book is based on scientific research. We have provided references to this scientific literature throughout this book so that you may review the original research. However, to avoid disrupt­ing the flow of text we deviate slightly from scientific editorial conventions. When we refer to a research paper in the text, we give only the first author's name and year of publication. The complete reference, with all authors, is given at the end of each chapter.

References:

Ayres, J. Sensory Integration. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services, 1989.

Bandler, R. Using Your Brain For A Change. Moab, Utah: Real People Press, 1985.

Diamond, M. Enriching Heredity. New York: The Free Press, 1988.

Feldenkrais, M. The Potent Self: A Guide To Spontaneity. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985.