People who use ‘smart drugs’ worse at complex tasks, study finds

Research has found those who use medications such as Ritalin without having conditions such as ADHD actually reduce their mental performance

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People who use so-called “smart drugs” to boost their mental performance tend to be worse at complex tasks despite tackling them with more enthusiasm, a study has found.

Drugs commonly prescribed to people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy, such as methylphenidate (sold under the brand names Ritalin and Concerta), Modafinil and dextroamphetamine, are sometimes used by people without those conditions who believe the drugs boost cognition.

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