VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS · GUIDE
Where the Word "Nootropic" Came From: History and the Original Criteria
Who first used the word nootropic, what it meant in the 1970s, how the original criteria are described in later reviews, and why they are not a standard for today's supplements.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Back to NootropicsQuick answer
The word "nootropic" was first used by Cornelius E. Giurgea in 1972/1973, according to a 2022 review, to describe substances that primarily activate cognitive functions such as memory and learning, especially when those functions are impaired. [1] It began as a term for a proposed class of drugs, not for dietary supplements or for products sold to healthy people. The original criteria below are a historical definition. They are not a standard that any product meets today, and nothing in the sources we read treats them as a test of quality or safety.
Where the name comes from
The same review says the name joins two Greek words: one meaning "thinking" and one meaning "to guide". [1] The PubMed records of Giurgea's papers show the term in print in 1972 (a French-language paper titled "Pharmacology of integrative activity of the brain. Attempt at nootropic concept in psychopharmacology") and in 1973 (an English title that begins "The 'nootropic' approach to the pharmacology of the integrative activity of the brain"). [2][3] Those records have no abstract, so we did not read the papers themselves and describe the criteria only as later reviews report them.The original criteria, as later reviews describe them
A 2025 narrative review, citing Giurgea and Salama (1977), lists key characteristics a nootropic "may" have. [4]| Characteristic listed | In plain words | Status today |
|---|---|---|
| Increased levels of learning acquisition | Helps learning to be taken in | Historical definition |
| Increased resistance of learned behaviours against agents that tend to damage them | Learned things hold up better under things that disrupt them | Historical definition |
| Facilitation of inter-hemispheric flow of information | Better communication between the two sides of the brain | Historical definition |
| Increase in the efficacy of tonic cortico-subcortical control mechanisms | Steadier background control between brain regions | Historical definition |
A 2022 review adds that nootropics, in this older sense, do not act directly by releasing neurotransmitters or as receptor ligands. [1] We did not read a source that spells out any further original criteria (for example, about side effects), so we do not list any.
How the meaning has shifted
- 1990: a "new drug category". A Japanese psychiatry paper says Giurgea proposed "nootropic" as a new drug category for substances with an anti-dementia action, yet the general concept "remains obscure". Its author proposed widening the idea to include substances that raise the vigilance level. [5]
- 2022: no uniform approach. One review says there is no uniform approach to categorizing these compounds. [1]
- 2022 to 2025: two meanings side by side. Reviews describe "nootropics" as the treatment of cognitive deficits in people with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or ADHD, while "smart drugs" means substances used by healthy people to improve mental performance. [4] See how these terms differ.
What we could not verify
- Piracetam's early history. Reviews name piracetam among popular "smart drugs", and a US warning letter mentions a piracetam product. [6][7] We did not read a source on how or when piracetam was developed, so we do not describe it. See racetams and their regulatory status.
- A formal checklist used by regulators. A formal checklist of nootropic criteria used by regulators is not described in the sources we read.
Why the history matters for today's labels
A product labeled "nootropic" is not shown to meet Giurgea's characteristics by that label. In the US, the FDA says it does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold. [8] A systematic review of ingredients sold with cognitive-performance claims for healthy adults found low certainty in the science. [9]Frequently asked questions
Who invented the word nootropic?
A 2022 review says Cornelius E. Giurgea first used it in 1972/1973. [1]
What does nootropic mean in Greek?
The review says the word joins two Greek words meaning "thinking" and "to guide". [1]
What were the original criteria for a nootropic?
Later reviews list learning acquisition, resistance of learned behaviours to damaging agents, inter-hemispheric information flow and cortico-subcortical control. [4]
Do today's supplements have to meet those criteria?
Such a requirement is not described in the sources we read. The FDA says it does not approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before sale. [8]
Is "nootropic" the same as "smart drug"?
Not exactly. Reviews use "nootropics" for treating cognitive deficits and "smart drugs" for use by healthy people, though the words are often mixed. [4]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety note
Historical drug research is not safety information about a supplement. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any product for memory or focus, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding, giving anything to a child, living with kidney or liver conditions, taking other medicines, or facing surgery. The FDA advises talking with a health care professional because some supplements can interact with medications or have dangerous effects during surgery. [8] See medication interactions and the overview What Are Nootropics? New or worsening memory problems need a medical evaluation. For the wider picture, see do nootropics work.
References
- Malík M, Tlustoš P. Nutrients 2022. Nootropics as Cognitive Enhancers: Types, Dosage and Side Effects of Smart Drugs (full text via PMC9415189). Read 2026-10-22.
- Giurgea C. Actual Pharmacol (Paris) 1972. Pharmacology of integrative activity of the brain. Attempt at nootropic concept in psychopharmacology (PubMed record only; no abstract). Read 2026-10-22.
- Giurgea C. Cond Reflex 1973. The "nootropic" approach to the pharmacology of the integrative activity of the brain (PubMed record only; no abstract). Read 2026-10-22.
- Schifano F et al. Biology (Basel) 2025. Focus on Cognitive Enhancement: A Narrative Overview of Nootropics and "Smart Drug" Use and Misuse (full text via PMC12466949). Read 2026-10-22.
- Kinoshita T. Seishin Shinkeigaku Zasshi 1990. Quantitative pharmaco-EEG study of nootropics (Japanese; English abstract). Read 2026-10-22.
- Schifano F et al. Drugs 2022. Benefits and Harms of 'Smart Drugs' (Nootropics) in Healthy Individuals. Read 2026-10-22.
- US Food and Drug Administration (with the Federal Trade Commission), Warning letter to a seller of products marketed as nootropics, 565425 (February 5, 2019). Read 2026-10-22.
- US Food and Drug Administration, FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. Read 2026-10-22.
- Crawford C et al. J Altern Complement Med 2021. Dietary Supplement Ingredients for Optimizing Cognitive Performance Among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.