It’s May. Warm weather’s coming… it’s hard to stay to focused… and millions of students and young professionals are trying to get their work done so they can enjoy their summers.

So much so that college students have started tweeting about Adderall in record numbers. In fact, a new report published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, shows that tweets about Adderall rise sharply during final exams. The study showed 213,633 tweets mentioned the drug during traditional finals periods, with peaks on Dec. 13, 2012 and April 30, 2013.

Clearly, Adderall is being used as a study aid during these critical academic times.

With the increased distractions that summer brings, it is no wonder. From college campuses to the corporate workplace, there is the stress to finish all your work before you leave for vacation so you can actually enjoy your time off.

This pattern of Adderall use during ‘crunch’ time, particularly by those driven to achieve, is raising concerns by many in the medical community who feel the more it becomes a social norm in online conversation, the higher the risk of more people abusing the prescription medication. It’s been reported that teen misuse and abuse of prescription drugs is up 33% since 2008.

That’s why smart, high achievers are turning to PROFIDERALL, America’s #1 Cognitive Energy Enhancer, to help them ignore the distractions and focus their attention until the job is done… without the use of controversial prescription medications.

PROFIDERALL is pioneering the science of Nootropics to help healthy overachievers improve focus and increase concentration. Nootropics have changed the field of cognitive enhancement… most notably with the development of Nootropic Stacks. These scientifically engineered, meticulously refined formulas, like PROFIDERALL’s Cognitive Energy Complex™, are redefining ‘smart drugs’ and increasing their acceptance in the worlds of business and academia… combining key Nootropic substances clinically proven to improve creative thinking, information processing, attention, cortical/behavioral arousal, learning and memory with powerful energy compounds to deliver intense focus and incredible energy.

Simply put, Nootropics and ground-breaking products like PROFIDERALL are changing the way a generation students and professionals see and use cognitive enhancing ‘smart drugs’ by offering a non-prescription alternative to the off-label use of controversial attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medications.

Brain injuries are all too common in professional American football… reaching epidemic proportions and initiating calls for more research into safer equipment and newer, better ways to treat brain trauma.

An exhaustive clinical study was undertaken by the NFL to determine if various strategies could help improve cognitive function of retired players who have suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of numerous impacts over extended periods of time. Part of the study included the development of ‘smart drug’ strategies that could enhance cerebral blood flow via increased acetylcholine and antioxidant activity.

Published results in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs show that supplementation with several ‘smart drugs’ can play a significant role in improving general cognitive functioning, general cognitive proficiency, attention, memory, reasoning, information processing speed and accuracy among players who participated in the study.

These findings have widespread implications for the treatment of traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome.

Just as important, however, are the implications these positive results could have on both the science of cognitive enhancement itself and the nation’s acceptance of ‘smart drugs’ as legitimate tools for improved mental performance.

METHOD

NFL players who demonstrated brain damage and cognitive impairment were studied over a six-month period.

The possible techniques studied included weight loss (if appropriate) and the use of fish oil, a high-potency multiple vitamin, and a formulated brain enhancement supplement to increase blood flow and antioxidant activity. That formulation was centered on ‘smart drugs’ like vinpocetine, huperzine A, and alpha-lipoic acid.

Outcomes were measured using Microcog Assessment of Cognitive Functioning and brain SPECT imaging.

RESULTS

Over a period of six months, the players showed statistically significant increases in scores of attention, memory, reasoning, information processing speed and accuracy… as well as increased brain perfusion in their SPECT scans, especially in the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobes, occipital lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus and cerebellum.

The deeper implications of this study suggest that ‘smart drug’ supplementation could be a viable technique for anyone seeking to increase cognitive function and performance.

PROFIDERALL’s Pioneering Formula

PROFIDERALL remains at the forefront of cognitive enhancement, pioneering the use of the key active ‘smart drugs’ in the NFL study as essential components in its Cognitive Energy Complex™.

In fact, PROFIDERALL remains the first and only supplement to combine vinpocetine, huperzine A, and alpha-lipoic acid with effective nootropics and powerful energy compounds to help healthy overachievers improve focus, increase concentration, and boost energy.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (or simply ALA) is a naturally formed fatty acid and can be found in each and every cell of the body. We get small amounts of ALA in our diet from things like spinach, brewers yeast, rice, peas and red meat.

Because ALA is a powerful antioxidant (that is, it scavenges free radicals), researchers have been curious about its ability to help cognitive function, as it’s thought that free radical damage plays a large, critical role in declining brain function. Its success in helping to overcome various brain related issues is that unlike most of the antioxidants, ALA can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier… allowing for better absorption and a significant reduction of free radicals in the brain.

Apart from its own contribution in the various antioxidant activities, ALA also helps in the process of regeneration of other important antioxidants including Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Glutathione. This ability to recycle other free-radical neutralizers makes ALA a particularly potent antioxidant. In fact, research is ongoing related to ALA’s potential as an anti-aging powerhouse.

Because ALA is both water and fat soluble, it can fight free radicals throughout the body.

Alpha lipoic acid is a key co-factor between 2 pathways essential for cellular energy production: glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.  Playing a vital role in converting the body glucose into energy.

Most interesting are the effects of ALA related to aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Researchers are also considering it as a potential treatment for some of the major brain/cognitive problems including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. Patients treated with the ALA supplements have experience a significant decrease in the oxidative stress – the imbalance between reactive oxygen production and the ability of any biological system to detoxify the reactive intermediates, thereby repairing the damage. This in turn, has shown a prominent stabilization of the cognitive abilities of those patients.

Also according to researchers, ALA along with Acetyl-L-Carnitine can effectively inhibit the formation of brain tangles, which is a distinctive characteristic of the Alzheimer’s disease. The synergistic combination of these two compounds has been found to be quite effective in oxidative damage to cellular mitochondria.

PROFIDERALL’s has pioneered the use of Alpha Lipoic Acid, making it a key constituent of its Cognitive Energy Complex™. This combination of ALA with the latest nootropic ‘smart drugs’ and powerful energy compounds is unique to PROFIDERALL… and is one reason why healthy overachievers turn to PROFIDERALL to improve focus, increase concentration and boost energy.

In response to the growing debate about Smart Drugs, the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society joined forces to consider the implications of cognitive enhancing technologies and the future of human enhancement.

Bringing together policy-makers with leading experts from across engineering, science, social science, the humanities and industry, the Academies report focused on those new, cutting edge technologies that have the best potential to extend an individual’s mental capacities beyond their current limits.

Human Enhancement?

Human enhancement refers to endeavors that are designed to restore or improve human performance, thus overcoming the current limits of one’s human body. Advances in fields such as biotechnology, engineering, neuroscience and computing bring the potential for remarkable human enhancements.

In particular, through the use of cognitive enhancers or ‘Smart Drugs.’

Cognitive enhancement of healthy individuals

There are several ways to enhance cognition in humans. Education and physical exercise are two well-established cognition enhancers (but not considered in detail by the Academies). Newer cognitive enhancers are emerging that could also improve a range of mental faculties such as memory and concentration in healthy individuals.

Professor Barbara Sahakian, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge, reported that researchers are increasingly seeing many of these drugs being used by healthy individuals, among whom there is evidence that they do improve performance.

For example, stimulant drugs exert their effects in a baseline-dependent manner, so stimulants will improve low performance in individuals regardless of whether the individual is a healthy volunteer or has ADHD. With up to 16% of students in the United States already using such cognitive enhancers to improve performance.

Getting an edge

As expected, The Royal Society concluded that education is the ‘most broadly and consistently successful cognitive enhancer’.

No argument there. The attraction of other cognitive enhancers, then, might lie in their ability to help users gain a small but significant competitive edge.

In fact, The Academy of Medical Sciences reported that small percentage increments in performance can lead to significant improvements in functional outcome; it is conceivable that a 10% improvement in memory score could lead to an improvement in an A-level grade – or the equivalent of Advanced Placement in the U.S.

Science agrees: Smart Drugs are changing the way people work

It’s predicted that the work place as we know it will evolve over the next decade. How and where we work are likely to be dramatically different, with cognitive enhancement technologies potentially making a significant contribution. Widespread use of Smart Drugs, already a strong trend with overachievers, will further impact an individual’s ability to learn or perform tasks, leading to higher performance expectations.

With growing pressures being put on employees to be more motivated, and able to work in increasingly demanding conditions – these overachievers will only continue to raise the bar.

Barbara Sahakian, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge, offered this example:

“Imagine two surgeons, one who has been drinking coffee to stay alert and has hand tremors and the other who has been taking cognitive enhancing drugs and has no tremors and is alert. Which would you prefer to operate?”

Conclusion

As our understanding of the brain improves, it is informing both the desire for and the science of the development of new cognitive enhancers. The use of these enhancements raises a range of scientific, engineering, social, political, ethical, economic and regulatory questions. But one thing is for sure… human beings will continually look for ways to enhance mental performance and overcome our physical limitations.

In short, we all want to get better, smarter and stronger. It’s in our nature.

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) is an essential constituent used in the very best cognitive enhancement formulations.

Study after study has shown DMAE’s ability to positively affect learning, mitigate panic attacks, help children with hyperactivity and attention deficit, improve outcomes for those with chronic fatigue syndrome and, oddly enough, improve the ‘quality’ of dreams.

And while there’s no debate about its effectiveness, researchers have been unclear about how DMAE actually achieves it positive effects on the brain.

Finally, the confusion is beginning to clear.

A recent study from Argentina, “New insights on Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) features as a free radical scavenger,” offers new insight on at least one way DMAE helps cognitive function… by its unique ability to scavenge specific free radicals. Essentially, then DMAE is a first-rate antioxidant.

You Know About Antioxidants, Right?

Simply put, antioxidants protect us from free radical damage.

What are free radicals?  They’re single oxygen molecules with a missing an electron that cascade through your body like out of control pinballs… bombarding cells and tissues… literally wreaking havoc that includes damaging DNA, compromising the functionality of healthy cells and speeding the aging process. In fact, the free radical theory of aging was one of the medical breakthroughs of the late 1980’s.

Free radicals are both internal and external. When we breathe, oxygen is metabolized inside the body and free radicals are the result of this interaction. A lack of sleep, stress and poor diet also cause free radicals to develop from the oxidation of proteins and lipids.

Externally, free radicals are generated by sun exposure, smoke, pollution and some foods.

On the other hand, antioxidants ‘scavenge’ free radicals before they can do any more damage (by donating an electron to a free radical and essentially neutralizing it). The more antioxidants in your system, the better for you. Things like Vitamins C and E, polyphenols from fruits and vegetables, certain plant extracts are excellent free radical fighters.

But with this newly published information, DMAE joins the ranks of powerful antioxidants. There’s no doubt about DMAE’s antioxidant action as the researches used Electron Spectroscopic Resonance (EPR) to detect the presence of free radicals and to quantify the antioxidant action of DMAE.

The Results?

The data presented in the study leave no doubt that DMAE is helpful in the anti-aging process and can slow age related degeneration caused by the presence of free radicals in the brain.

Let’s repeat – it protects the brain from free radical damage that, in turn, slows the aging process.

The results presented were consistent with the hypothesis that indicates that lipid radicals are quenched by DMAE supplementation.

No wonder DMAE is an important factor to better brain function at any age.

Free radicals are considered by many gerontologists to be the leading cause of aging and cognitive degenerative conditions. The elimination of free radicals with the use of antioxidants like DMAE is extremely beneficial in promoting cognitive health and longevity.

PROFIDERALL’s has pioneered the use of DMAE, making it a key constituent of its Cognitive Energy Complex™. This combination of nootropic ‘smart drugs,’ DMAE antioxidants and powerful energy compounds is unique to PROFIDERALL and is one reason why healthy overachievers turn to PROFIDERALL to improve focus, increase concentration, and boost energy.

Check the labels and remember: the very best cognitive energy enhancers must include real nootropics and DMAE. Period.

Vinpocetine is a semisynthetic derivative alkaloid of vincamine, an extract from the periwinkle plant. Vinpocetine has been reported to have cerebral blood-flow enhancing and neuroprotective effects, and is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Vinpocetine has also been gaining popularity in the field of cognitive enhancement as it may help support brain functions such as concentration and memory by activating cerebral metabolism.

A recent study aimed at determining the efficacy and safety of Vinpocetine in the improvement of cognitive function.

METHODS:

Over an 18-month period, Vinpocetine was used in the treatment of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Researchers conducted comprehensive double-blind studies using psychometrical tests (ADAS-Cog, MMSE) to assess changes patient’s cognitive performance, memory, and mental acuity.

Assessment and Analysis

Assessments were performed six times over the course of treatment, using CGIC-PGIC to evaluate the overall change in cognitive health, Age Diagnostic Laboratories (ADL) to assess the patient’s daily activity, and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) to evaluate the patient’s mood.

RESULTS:

After the 18-month treatment period, the psychometrical tests revealed massive improvement in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The investigators and patients alike reported substantial improvement including enhanced memory, performance, awareness, and mental acuity. As well as improvements in overall mood.

Reduced metabolism due to hypothyroidism has been thought to be the cause of reduced flow of blood to the brain and slowed metabolism in the brain resulting in memory-related and cognitive impairments. Clinical data shows that Vinpocetine helps to counteract this by improving blood flow to the brain – enhancing the utilization of oxygen, inhibiting platelets aggregation, improving the pliability of red blood cells and dilation of blood vessels, and boosting circulation in the brain. Moreover, with minimal side effects, Vinpocetine was shown to be highly safe and have good tolerability through out the whole study.

CONCLUSION:

Vinpocetine, due its complex mechanism of action, significantly helped to improve cognitive function, overall cognitive health and quality of life in patients with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. As a result, the study concludes that Vinpocetine can be recommended for patients with mild cognitive impairment.

PROFIDERALL’s pioneering approach to nootropics and nootropic-based stacks has led to the use of Vinpocetine in its Cognitive Energy Complex™. Combining Vinpocetine with the latest nootropic ‘smart drugs’ and powerful energy compounds to help the healthy overachievers improve focus, increase concentration, and boost energy.

Huperzine A Is an alkaloid derived from Huperzia Serrate. It is known to help aid memory, learning, and concentration. It works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. By prolonging the life of the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine, it enhances mental function and sharpens focus. Used worldwide for decades in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, it is considered the most potent short-term memory enhancer available.

A new study set out to test the efficacy of Huperzine A capsules on memory and learning performance of adolescent students.

METHODS:

Using double-blind and matched pair method, 34 pairs of junior middle school students were divided into two groups by normal psychological health inventory (PHI), similar memory quotient (MQ), sex, and age. The Huperzine A (HUP) group was administrated orally 2 capsules of Huperzine A (50 micrograms) b.i.d., and the placebo (PLA) group was given 2 capsules of placebo (starch and lactose) b.i.d. for 4 weeks.

Assessment and Analysis

The Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) was used to evaluate all samples before and after the experiment. The factors evaluated by the WMS were: recognition, picture memory, reproduction, accumulation, association, tactual memory, number of recitation and understanding. Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) was also utilized to evaluate the occurrence of side-effects from the drug. A performance assessment – in Language and Mathematics – was also incorporated to evaluate average score before and after the trial.

RESULTS:

The results showed significant cognitive improvement in students taking Huperzine A. The Memory Quotient (MQ) was significantly higher in the HUP group compared to the PLA group after the trial. The learning performance of the HUP group was also significantly elevated. With the HUP group receiving higher scores on the quizzes taken after the trial compared to that taken before the trial.

When the analysis was broken down to evaluate the effect of the drug using the various factors of the Wechsler Memory Scale, interesting results were observed. The HUP group sampled showed increased score in recognition, accumulation, association, picture memory, reproduction, tactual memory, number of recitation, and recognition. Consequently, the same group found enhanced learning performance in the language quizzes but not in the Mathematics quiz. In general, however, the comparison of the learning abilities and Memory Quotient of the HUP group and the PLA group reveal that Huperzine A does in fact improve mental function significantly.

Remarkably, Huperzine A showed no side effects. The TESS (Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale) was used in the assessment of the two groups used in the study and the score was zero in both groups. The zero scores indicated that in the 4-week trial period, there were no side effects experienced in both groups.

CONCLUSION:

The study revealed that indeed Huperzine A helps to enhance the memory and learning performance of students. Improving cognitive function, memory and learning aptitude – without any side-effects associated with its usage.

PROFIDERALL’s pioneering approach to nootropics and nootropic-based stacks has led to the use of Huperzine A in its Cognitive Energy Complex™. Combining Huperzine A with the latest nootropic ‘smart drugs’ and powerful energy compounds to help the healthy overachievers improve focus, increase concentration, and boost energy.

It’s January.  The new year… time to focus.

That means high achievers will be looking for ways to sharpen their competitive edge and get on top.

2012 was The Year of Adderall®, with record numbers of students and young professionals using ADHD medications as cognitive enhancers to increase focus, improve concentration, and keep up with their demanding daily routines.

But growing safety and ethical issues surrounding the use of ADHD medication for non-therapeutic use has sent healthy over-achievers looking for alternatives – and they have found one in Nootropics.

Adderall Alternatives?

Nootropics, commonly known as “smart drugs,” are fueling a new category of nutritional supplement: Cognitive Energy Enhancers. Dubbed “Adderall Alternatives,” these non-prescription alternatives help healthy overachievers to improve focus, increase concentration, and enhance cognitive function.

Pioneering the science of Nootropics, industry leader PROFIDERALL has seen sales of its Cognitive Energy Enhancer grow more than 450% since 2010. This phenomenal success is a direct result of its unique Cognitive Energy Complex™, which combines nootropic ‘smart drugs’ with powerful energy compounds.

The Science of Nootropics

Nootropics improve the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine via muscarinic cholinergic (ACh) receptors, which are implicated in memory processes. Furthermore, they have an effect on NMDA glutamate receptors which are involved with learning and memory. Nootropics influence neuronal and vascular functions and increase cognitive function, while at the same time providing a natural source of energy to keep you alert and motivated.

Nootropics Are Changing the Way Americans Think

As growing numbers of healthy over-achievers are turning to Nootropics to work smarter… rise above the crowd… and accomplish more, 2013 is proving to be the year of “ Smart Drugs.”

Please visit www.PROFIDERALL.com to learn more about PROFIDERALL and order online.

Can we all stop pretending that the rise in popularity of Adderall is directly related to anything other than students and young professionals using it as a “smart drug”???

Look, students have been using Adderall for years to improve focus and concentration. So much so that Cognitive Enhancement has become a billion dollar industry.  And it doesn’t stop when people leave college. In fact, this generation of graduates is carrying smart drugs into the workplace. It is not uncommon for young professionals to use ADHD medications to keep up with their daily routine.

It is ridiculous to think this Adderall shortage correlates with a sudden spike in cases of ADHD.  So why has all the controversy played out in the media?

The reason can be traced to the off-label use of prescription drugs. And rightfully so. Medications designed to treat ADHD are not meant for non-therapeutic use and can be addictive, potentially harmful and illegal to consume without a doctor’s permission. In addition, they are Class 2 controlled substances and rank among the most addictive substances that have a medical use. 

Why not remove the stigma attached to the use of ADHD medication for cognitive enhancement by simply creating a product specifically for cognitive enhancement???

That’s what PROFIDERALL has done with the creation of its Cognitive Energy Complex™. PROFIDERALL’s Cognitive Energy Complex™ pairs the latest nootropic ‘smart drugs’ with powerful energy compounds to provide fuel for both mind and body, which has resulted in it is being called the “Adderall Alternative.”

Introducing the Science of Nootropics

PROFIDERALL is pioneering the science of Nootropics to help healthy overachievers improve focus and increase concentration… without the use of prescription medications.

Nootropics improve the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine via muscarinic cholinergic (ACh) receptors, which are implicated in memory processes. Furthermore, they have an effect on NMDA glutamate receptors which are involved with learning and memory. Nootropics influence neuronal and vascular functions and increase cognitive function, while at the same time providing a natural source of energy to keep you alert and motivated.

Nootropics are changing the field of cognitive enhancement. Most notably with the development of Nootropic Stacks. These scientifically engineered, meticulously refined formulas, like PROFIDERALL’s Cognitive Energy Complex™, are redefining smart drugs. Combining key Nootropic substances clinically proven to improve creative thinking, information processing, attention, cortical/behavioral arousal, learning and memory… with powerful energy compounds to deliver intense focus and incredible energy that lasts up to 6 hours.

Simply put, Nootropics and products like PROFIDERALL are changing the way a generation students and professionals see and use smart drugs. Say what you will about the ethics of improving brain function, focus and concentration… by separating cognitive enhancement from ADHD, those who need Adderall for medical treatment won’t face critical shortages – and healthy overachievers looking to improve focus and concentration won’t have to worry about the implications of acquiring prescription medication for off-label use.

After a year that’s often been mired in controversy, it is clear the future of smart drugs can be bright… with increasing acceptance throughout all levels of society… but only when we separate the cognitive enhancement of smart drugs from the medical conditions treated by Adderall.

The answer is yes AND no.

The misuse of prescription drugs is, by definition, unethical; and the abuse of a controlled substance is a violation of most major corporate and academic codes of conduct – and thus technically cheating.

But…

There is absolutely nothing unethical, immoral, or unfair about trying to improve cognitive function. Is it unethical to drink a cup of coffee in the morning to wake up? Does drinking a protein shake after a gym workout give you an unfair advantage? Both are ‘tools’ to aid in physical endurance and performance. After all, taking a daily multivitamin gives you both a physical and mental advantage… and no one argues that vitamins are unethical.

So why does a double standard apply when it comes to cognitive performance?

The key to the controversy can be traced to the off-label use of prescription drugs. And rightfully so. The medications designed to treat ADHD are not meant for non-therapeutic use and can be addictive, potentially harmful and illegal to consume without a doctor’s permission. In addition, they are Class 2 controlled substances and rank among the most addictive substances that have a medical use.

What’s being missed here is a simple fact: not all smart drugs are prescription medications. Most notably Nootropics. Nootropics are safe, legal and widely available. Thus, by all prior definitions, the use of these smart drugs is neither unethical nor cheating.

How do Nootropics work?

Nootropics improve the function of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine via muscarinic cholinergic (ACh) receptors… both of which are implicated in memory processes. Furthermore, both affect NMDA glutamate receptors which are involved with learning, memory and retention. Nootropics influence neuronal and vascular functions and increase cognitive function, while at the same time providing a natural source of energy to keep you alert and motivated.

In universities, research laboratories and high-performance companies around the world, Nootropics are fueling a new category of nutritional supplement: Cognitive Energy Enhancers. Dubbed “Adderall alternatives,” these non-prescription alternatives help healthy overachievers improve cognitive function to work smarter, work longer and accomplish more.

There is nothing unethical or unfair about “smart” self-improvement.

In many ways, Nootropics continue a long quest for optimum personal performance. From vitamin supplements to fortified protein drinks, meta-learning to metabolic conditioning… for that matter, simply following a basic, healthy diet and exercise regimen… high-achieving people have always sought and will continue to seek better, safer, more scientific ways to improve their physical and mental performance.