"Brain-boosting" drugs
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"Brain-boosting" drugs
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"Brain-boosting" drugs
23 May 2008  printer version
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raiting (0/0) Authorities need to prepare for the possible abuse of "brain-boosting" drugs set to flood the market in coming decades, says a new UK report. The Academy of Medical Sciences reports says drugs for diseases like Alzheimer's could potentially be misused for non-medical purposes, such as helping students cram for exams. "The use of psychoactive drugs by patients and health individuals will become an increasing feature in all our lives," says Professor Gabriel Horn from the University of Cambridge, who chaired the group that issued the new report. The study says there will be a likely increase of "brain-boosting" drugs that may improve short-term memory or speed of thought. While the drugs might help people with neurodegenerative diseases and mental illness, such treatments could also prove popular among the public for non-medical purposes, such as studying or staying alert at work, say Horn and colleagues. "We must act now to harness the opportunities offered by advances in brain science to treat and prevent disease, but also to reduce the harms associated with drug misuse and addiction," Horn says. Research needed One way to do this would be to ensure there is adequate funding for research into the safety and effectiveness of these new compounds, the researchers says. Current psychoactive drugs, sometimes used as "brain boosters", include treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. "Drug companies are very interested in this area," says Professor Leslie Iverson from the University of Oxford who also worked on the report. "What we are flagging is this is a very active area of research and we should be prepared for a number of new drugs in the coming years." Source: Other articles in Art and Science:  Readers' CommentsNo comments Add your commentary |
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