wedrifid comments on Rationality Drugs - Less Wrong

26 Post author: lukeprog 01 October 2011 11:20AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (119)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: kilobug 01 October 2011 03:47:31PM 4 points [-]

Well, it's not surprising that drugs can help with cognition. But we've to be very careful about two things : the effects it has on other parts of the body, and the long-term effects, both to the body and to the brain itself.

The human body is a very complex and delicate machinery, and the human brain the most delicate part of it... it's very easy to create long term problems in it by trying to push it a bit too much. Just look at the professional sport players, and how badly they are damaged after a few years of taking drugs to enhance their performances.

That's why I tend to be very careful about not taking drugs, unless I already have a disorder that needs fixing, and unless advised to take them by a doctor I trust. Taking drugs to increase performances sounds a bit like overclocking CPUs. Sure they'll go faster... but at the risk of increasing bugs, and of a shorter lifespan due to increased heating.

Now if a drug is really efficient, with no side-effect, no long-term consequences, according to very strict peer-reviewed studies, then ok. But until then, my motto is "careful, your body is complex and delicate, we don't fully understand it, so unless you really have a problem, don't take drugs".

Comment author: wedrifid 08 August 2013 05:34:40PM 2 points [-]

That's why I tend to be very careful about not taking drugs, unless I already have a disorder that needs fixing, and unless advised to take them by a doctor I trust. Taking drugs to increase performances sounds a bit like overclocking CPUs. Sure they'll go faster... but at the risk of increasing bugs, and of a shorter lifespan due to increased heating.

The analogy works well when considering stimulants. However when considering drugs or supplements that are neuroprotective or that actively promote neurogenesis the analogy becomes fallacious. Cerebrolysin, for example is more analogous to opening up your computer and replacing the CPU and RAM with more powerful and more reliable components. Sure, it is invasive and requires caution and knowledge to do but the life expectancy of the core components is increased, not decreased.