The increasing lifestyle use of modafinil by healthy people: safety and ethical issues

- Pharmacological cognitive enhancers (PCEs) treat cognitive impairments in patients.
- PCEs have effects on attention, learning, memory, planning and problem solving.
- The lifestyle use of PCEs by healthy people is increasing.
- The use of PCEs in healthy people raises safety and ethical issues.
- The effects of lifestyle use of PCEs on society urgently needs discussion.

Pharmacological cognitive enhancers (PCEs) are used in the treatment of a variety of disorders, including targeting cognitive impairment and sleep abnormalities. Evidence suggests that PCEs also enhance cognition in healthy individuals. PCEs have attracted considerable interest recently, particularly from students, academics and the military. Proponents of PCE use in healthy people argue that these substances may be used to reduce fatigue-related and work-related accidents and improve learning outcomes.In this article, safety concerns as well as ethical issues of fairness and coercion are considered. Discussion amongst experts in the field, government officials and members of society on the topic of the increasing lifestyle use of PCEs in healthy people is urgently needed.