Wouldn't we all like to pop a smart pill from time to time?

Dr. Robert Schwarcz at the University of Maryland is working on it. See today's Sun for the full story on the smart pill. But basically, he made a connection between cognition and kynurenic acid, which is made in the brain after eating certain foods.

It may be possible to make a drug that blocks development of the acid, which interferes with brain receptors that stimulate memory and learning. The problem is, tryptophan, which triggers the acid production, also triggers production of serotonin, which we need to regulate mood and sleep.

So, the drug companies who are using Dr. Schwarcz' research to develop a drug have to ensure they didn't cause us to be smart but unhappy.

If they discover this drug, and it's approved by the government down the road -- a big maybe -- it could also be used to treat people with memory disorders such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. But Dr. Schwarcz' research so far has been in health people.

So, would you take such a drug, if there weren't significant side effects? How often do you think you'd want to take it? For projects, for trivia night, to go win big on a game show? Would that be ethical? Would there be sports-style doping, as one doctor suggested was a posibility? Should it be reserved for people with medical problems? 

Baltimore Sun photo of Dr. Schwarcz