How dementia drugs could be used by the military

The pilot of a F/A-18 Hornet jet fighter prepares to take off from a US aircraft carrier.
The pilot of a F/A-18 Hornet jet fighter prepares to take off from a US aircraft carrier. Some American military authorities allow the use of amphetamines by those operating single or two-seater aircraft. Photograph: Koji Sasahara/AP

Drugs that reduce anxiety, tiredness and memory loss – all associated with the treatment of dementia – could be used "off-label" as cognitive enhancers by military personnel, according to a Royal Society report.

While caffeine and nicotine are used routinely to reduce fatigue and improve attention, British armed forces prohibit other stimulants in training or on operations. The US air force still allows amphetamines in some cases, such as where single or two-seater aircraft are involved.


More controversial are those drugs that could be used against opponents. The report highlights a natural compound called oxytocin that is released during childbirth, lactation and orgasm, and is involved in trust and bonding. Drugs based on oxytocin might potentially make adversaries more trusting and willing to give up information, though the report is cautious not to overstate the effects.



