A Review of the Effect of Nootropic Compounds in Increasing the Cognitive Resilience of Military Forces and Existing Challenges

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 Toxicology Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Physiology Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Military personnel are exposed to various stressful factors that can cause irreparable damage to the persons' mental health. Resilience is a trait that can help military personnel resist stressful factors. Today, armies seek new ways to boost resilience in soldiers. One of the proposed and under-study methods is the use of nootropics or smart drugs. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of smart drugs on cognitive resilience. For this purpose, the literature review was conducted with the search of databases, including Google Scholar, IranMedex, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLIB, Science Direct, and Web of Science. Resilience is a multilateral framework that includes various aspects such as biologic, physiologic, and sociologic. Although some studies emphasize the efficacy of nootropics in enhancing cognitive functions through different pathways, clinical trials are still limited in this area. Despite preliminary evidence, some people suggest cognitive enhancement potential for certain compounds؛ but important questions such as safety, efficacy, and individual variability remain unanswered. More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and potential interactions of nootropics on resilience and cognitive function. Also, long-term studies are necessary to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of these compounds, especially in the military population.

Keywords

Journal of Military Medicine
Volume 26, Issue 3 - Serial Number 127
September and October 2024
Pages 2301-2309

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics