Scientists Back Brain-boosting Drugs for the Healthy

In a recent opinion piece in the journal Nature, a small group of scientists are encouraging the use and development of pharmaceutical drugs to improve memory and concentration among healthy people.

Current brain-boosting drugs -- Ritalin, Adderall, Provigil, and others -- are often used in hyperactive children, those with narcolepsy, and the elderly who have cognitive impairments such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They can help focus attention and process information, and are sometimes abused illegally, especially by college students.

The authors support research into, and policy development for, the use of such agents among the healthy, suggesting it is no more morally objectionable than eating right or getting a good night’s sleep. If nothing else, their controversial recommendations will likely incite a vigorous discussion among the scientific community and public.