Really Smart Drugs

Pop a pill and get smart. Such is the promise of ampakines. A class of drugs that started out ten years ago as potential treatments for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. As it turns out, ampakines increase memory, attention and mental acuity... so far only in monkees but. Darpa has invested $5 million+ in hopes that ampakines may replace stimulants currently used by pilots and soldiers. Military trials are on-going. Meanwhile, big pharmacy companies are testing to see if ampakines can treat mild cognitive impairment. Ampakines work like power boosters for brain signals, enhancing and prolonging synaptic currents by modifying the chemistry of cell receptors. In effect, making you smarter for longer.