Supplement could treat anxiety disorders

The recent buzz in the supplements industry surrounds the substance aniracetam. Sold in supplement form to alleviate anxiety, aniracetam is classified as a nootropic (a type of drug used to enhance brain function). It is available on prescription in Europe but is currently unregulated in the United States. Despite research on the effects of aniracetam being limited, there is evidence that the substance may show promise in the treatment of anxiety disorders. An animal-based study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 2001 found that aniracetam may help reduce anxiety by affecting certain brain chemicals. The study also suggested that aniracetam may help protect against depression, in tests on rats scientists discovered that it helped to stimulate the release of dopamine (a neurotransmitter commonly found at low levels in people with depression). Several preliminary studies have also shown that it may be of some benefit to people with cognitive impairment. For example, a 2012 study published in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics found that treating elderly adults with aniracetam for a year led to significant improvement in cognitive function. Involving 276 older adults with cognitive disorders, the study also found that aniracetam had beneficial effects on mood and emotional well-being.