Молодежный инновационный вестникМолодежный инновационный вестник2415-7805Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Воронежский государственный медицинский университет имени Н.Н. Бурденко" Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации10438Conference ProceedingsThe influence of nootropic drugs on cognitive functions in students of the Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. BurdenkoIshutinRoman Dmitrievichromanisutin665@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5927-7122BerezhnovaTatiana Alexandrovna<p>Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor</p>romanisutin665@gmail.comDyadinaKseniya Sergeyevna<p>Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor</p>dyadina_2017@mail.ruVoronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko2504202514S13573602502202511032025Copyright © 2025, Ishutin R.D., Berezhnova T.A., Dyadina K.S.2025<p>Studying at medical universities requires a huge amount of concentration and brain strain. Not every student can cope with overexertion and stress during their studies. Currently, cognitive stimulants are understood as a group of nootropics, which unites various classes of drugs. Objective. The purpose of the study: to identify students' tolerance to taking nootropic drugs and determine their impact on academic performance. Results. The survey showed that most of the respondents take this group of drugs, which for the majority have a positive effect on their neurological health and academic performance. Also, the established data indicate that there are students who self-medicate. In this case, such approaches to treatment are inappropriate. You should always resort to doctor's prescriptions, as an individual approach is required in prescribing nootropic drugs.</p>nootropic drugscognitive abilitiesbrain activityacademic performancestudentноотропные препаратыкогнитивные способностимозговая деятельностьуспеваемость, студент<p>Introduction. Studying at medical universities requires enormous mental and physical effort from medical students. The most serious test is the examination session. The amount of information is usually huge and requires memorization. At the same time, anxiety increases, appetite decreases, tremors appear, insomnia aggravates everything, these are typical manifestations of fear before exams. Students often ask questions about what drugs can be taken to improve mental activity processes? They turn to a neurologist with this question. Modern pharmacology offers a huge number of nootropic drugs that can improve memory, concentration, intelligence, speech and increase the performance and activity of the brain and, therefore, make the learning process less labor-intensive and increase the effectiveness of learning.</p> <p>The purpose of the work is to study and analyze the use of nootropic drugs by students to improve mental activity and to establish the relationship between drug intake and the results of the session.<br />Materials and methods of research. The work used the methods of voluntary questionnaires and statistical processing of the results. The survey included 9 questions, which were answered by men and women aged 17 to 28. A total of 150 people were surveyed. The purpose of the survey was to identify the name of the drugs, the effectiveness of their use. The study was conducted during 2024.<br />Research results. Nootropics are a group of drugs used to improve the cognitive functions of the brain.<br />Having studied the literature, which indicates that the use of nootropic drugs has the following indications:<br />Dementia of various origins (including vascular dementia associated with impaired blood supply to the brain, senile dementia characteristic of old age, and Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disease with a progressive decline in cognitive functions), chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (persistent cerebrovascular insufficiency), intellectual and memory disorders (memory and intellectual disorders of various etiologies), and in some cases vegetative-vascular dystonia (dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, which can manifest itself in cognitive impairment) and mental retardation in children. It is important to note that nootropics are not a panacea and their effectiveness depends on many factors, including the cause of cognitive impairment and the individual characteristics of the patient. They should be used under strict medical supervision [1]. The mechanisms of action of nootropics are diverse and not fully understood, but the main ones are: improving the energy supply of brain neurons. This is achieved by optimizing the processes of cellular respiration and the use of glucose, which leads to an increase in the production of ATP - the main source of energy for cells. In addition, nootropics stimulate plastic processes in the central nervous system (CNS), activating the synthesis of RNA and proteins, which is necessary for the restoration of damaged neurons and the formation of new synaptic connections. Strengthening the processes of reparation - restoration - plays a key role in slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Stimulation of synaptic transmission consists in increasing the conductivity of nerve impulses between neurons, which improves interneuronal communication. This is achieved both by increasing the sensitivity of neurotransmitter receptors and by stimulating the formation of new synapses, which allows you to create new neural networks and compensate for lost functions [2]. The pharmacological properties of nootropics were also identified from information sources: the ability to optimize metabolism and energy in brain cells, increasing the efficiency of glucose and oxygen use. They improve the functioning of neurons and neural networks not only under normal conditions, but also under the influence of extreme factors such as hypoxia (lack of oxygen), intoxication and trauma. It is important to emphasize that, unlike psychostimulants, nootropics do not cause depletion of the body's functional capabilities, addiction or drug dependence. However, their therapeutic effect develops gradually, is cumulative and does not appear immediately after a single dose. This means that regular use of the drug over a long period of time is required to achieve a clinically significant effect [3]. Contraindications to the use of nootropics include pregnancy and breastfeeding, exacerbation of mental illnesses (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), children under 5 years of age (except in cases where the prescription is made by a doctor for strict indications), severe liver and kidney failure, as well as blood clotting disorders.<br />As part of this research work, the awareness of students of the medical, pediatric faculties was studied</p> <p>ultets and the Institute of Nursing Education (ISO) of the VSMU named after N.N. Burdenko regarding the detection of the intake of drugs that stimulate memory and the effect of their use. The study involved 150 students, of which 45 people (30%) were male and 105 people (70%) were female, aged 17 to 28 years. The average age of the respondents was 22.5 years.<br />The first two questions concerned gender and age, their results are presented above. To the third question of the questionnaire, Have you taken drugs from the nootropic group? received the following answers: 70 people (45%) noted that they did, and 80 people (55%) did not.<br />To the fourth question of the questionnaire, Do you have problems with academic performance in studying subjects?, future doctors indicated the following answer options: that there are no problems with their studies (65%), and there were those (35%) who have problems. To the fifth question of the questionnaire, "Have you consulted a doctor to prescribe these drugs?", the most common answer was (55%) - yes, they consulted a neurologist, a therapist, and there were those (45%) who prescribed treatment for themselves.<br />To the sixth question of the questionnaire, "During what period of study did you take these drugs?", the respondents most often (70%) indicated the academic year and the session period.<br />To the eighth question of the questionnaire, "Which drugs from this group did you take?", the doctors indicated the following drugs: Fezam, Mexidol, Picamilon, Pantogam, Piracetam, Actovegin, Cortexin, Vinpocetine, Cerebrolysin.<br />To the seventh question of the questionnaire, "How did this drug affect your cognitive functions?" the most common answers were:<br /> 50% - improved memory, attention, concentration on the learning process<br /> 23% - normalized sleep,<br /> 15% - there were also those who noted the normalization of blood pressure and pulse, since the drug was calming,<br /> 6% - had a hypnotic effect in the morning,<br /> 4% - contributed to increased excitability, impaired coordination and unsteadiness of gait<br /> 3% - and there were those who did not feel any effect.<br />To the ninth question of the questionnaire "Has your academic performance improved after taking the medication?", the majority of respondents noted (60%) that yes, it had improved, and there were those (40%) who indicated that it remained at the same level.</p> <p>Summing up the results of the survey of students of the VSMU named after N.N. Burdenko, the questionnaire showed that many students cannot cope with mental stress during their studies. They need medical help, so it is advisable to contact medical specialists for the prescription of drugs that improve cognitive functions.</p> <p>Conclusion. The survey showed that most of the respondents take this group of drugs, which for most have a positive effect on their neurological health and academic performance. Also, the established data indicate that there are students who self-medicate. In this case, such approaches to treatment are inappropriate. You should always resort to doctor's prescriptions, since an individual approach is required in prescribing nootropic drugs.</p>1.Т.А. Бережнова, Н.Ю. Кузьменко, Я.В. Кулинцова, К.С. Дядина, В.И. Харина, Е.С. Натарова, Ю.А Трубчанина Фармакологияя. Обща рецептура, Общая фармакология. Вещества медиаторного действия. Лекарственные средства, влияющие на ЦНС. Авторский коллектив 2023 г – 161-168.2.Фармакология. Курс лекций : учеб. пособие / А.И. Венгеровский. - 4-е изд., перераб. и доп. - М. : ГЭОТАР-Медиа, 2020. – 245-249 с.3.Ковалев Г.В. Ноотропные средства. Нижневолжское книжное издательство. 2022 г. – 107-111.