Drugs and nutrients which improve aspects of the brain's performance, such as memory, powers of concentration, and problem-solving abilities. The drugs could also reduce the severity of age-associated memory loss.
In 1991 there were more than 140 smart pills under development in USA laboratories, making them the tenth largest class of drugs being researched. Whilst none has yet been approved for legal use in the US, they are being imported and illegally manufactured, and taken by an estimated 100,000 people.