Kognitivni doping - (ne)farmakološke mogućnosti povećanja kognitivnih funkcija

master's thesis

• Title (english): Cognitive enhancement - (non)pharmacological possibilities of enhancing cognitive functions
• Author: Doroteja Gazdek
• Mentor: Lidija Bach-Rojecky (mentor)
• Committee member: Lidija Bach-Rojecky (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Živka Juričić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Mario Jug (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry; (Department of pharmacology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2018-09-19, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Pharmacy; Pharmacy

Abstract

„Kognitivno pojačavanje“ definira se kao upotreba lijekova i/ili drugih sredstava s ciljem poboljšavanja kognitivnih funkcija, ponajprije pamćenja, pozornosti, kreativnosti i inteligencije (u vidu sposobnosti rješavanja problema) zdravih osoba. Iako se ono može postići i nefarmakološkim mjerama (spavanje, kompjuterski trening, vježbanje), ljudi često posežu za farmakološkim rješenjima poput bezreceptnih pripravaka (kava, energetska pića i tablete ekstrakta Ginkgo bilobe), a u novije vrijeme i za psihostimulativnim lijekovima (amfetamini, metilfenidat, modafinil) koji se propisuju na recept za liječenje ADHD-a i narkolepsije, a koje nabavljaju ilegalno na „crnom tržištu“ lijekova. Takva praksa najčešće se veže za određene društvene skupine poput učenika i studenata, a zabilježene prevalencija farmakološkog „kognitivnog pojačavanja“, ovisno o dizajnu studije, iznosi 1-20%. Učinkovitost također varira od osobe do osobe, a smatra se da je najveća među onima čije su početne koncentracije neurotransmitora dopamina, noradrenalina i serotonina u oređenim regijama mozga niže. S druge strane, u medijima, kao i u javnosti, vlada mišljenje da su „pametni lijekovi“ vrlo učinkoviti, a „kognitivno pojačavanje“ smatra se varanjem. Upotreba lijekova u svrhu poboljšavanja kognitivnih funkcija kontroverzna je tema koja otvara brojna znanstvena i moralna pitanja koja za sada ostaju neodgovorena: treba li se upotreba „pametnih lijekova“ legalizirati i bi li legalizacija donijela napredak društva; kakve zdravstvene posljedice (osobito za mlađe ljude) takva praksa sa sobom nosi, može li se procijeniti kod koga bi korist od primjene bila veća od štete, koje bi korake trebalo poduzeti da se javnost educira o ovoj temi itd. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja o učinkovitosti i sigurnosti primjene lijekova kao „kognitivnih pojačivača“.

Abstract (english)

Cognitive enhancement is defined as use of drugs and/or other means with the aim to improve the cognitive functions of healthy subjects, in particular memory, attention, creativity and intelligence (intended as problem solving ability) in the absence of any medical indication. Although it can be achieved by non-pharmacological measurements (sleeping, computer training, exercising), people often tend to reach for pharmacological solutions like OTC substances (coffee, energy drinks and Ginkgo biloba extract pills), and most recently, psychostimulant drugs (amphetamines, methylphenidat, modafinil) perscribed by doctors for treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy, which are obtained illegaly from a „black market“. This kind of practice is usually associated with certain social groups like pupils and students with prevalence rates between 1 and 20%, depending on the design of study. Efficiency of pharmacological cognitive enhancement (PCE) also differs among individuals and appears to be the highest in those whose initial neurotransmiter (dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin) concentrations are low. On the other hand, media, as well as public, sees „smart drugs“ as highly efficient and considers PCE to be cheating. Using drugs to inhance cognitive performance is a controversial subject that opens up many scientific and moral questions, which, for now, stay unaswered: should the use of „smart drugs“ be legalized and would legalization lead to social progress, what kind of health consequences (especially on young people) would PCE have, having in mind differences in efficiancy among individuals, how would it be determined in which individuals would the benefit of PCE be bigger than risks, which steps should be taken to educate the public etc. Further research about efficiancy and safety of use of drugs as cognitive enhancers is needed.

• Keywords: kognitivni doping; pametni lijekovi; amfetamini; metilfenidat; modafinil; kofein; Ginkgo biloba; nefarmakološko kognitivno pojačavanje
• Keywords (english): cognitive enhancement; smart drugs; amphetamines; methylphenidat; modafinil; caffeine; Ginkgo biloba; nonpharmacological cognitive enhancement
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:163:897997
• Study programme: Title: Pharmacy; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra farmacije (magistar/magistra farmacije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2018-12-05 09:12:17