A new study has publicised that nicotine can considerably improve the attention and memory of suffers from mild cognitive impairment (commonly leading to Alzheimer’s). 

The test

74 non-smokers with an average age of 76 were each given nicotine patches. Half the sample received a patch that delivered 15mg of nicotine per day; the other half got a dummy patch with no nicotine. Neither group knew which patch they received. 

The results

After 6 months, the patches came off and the results were fascinating. The group who received the daily 15mg of nicotine got back 46% of normal long-term memory for their age group. The group who received no nicotine found their memory got 26% worse. 

Researchers are now also considering nicotine as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s. Research has established that nicotine can also help ulcerative colitis patients suffer fewer outbreaks. Sanford studies have discovered that nicotine also helps to grow new blood vessels; this would be great for patients with diabetes and poor blood circulation. 

Acetylcholine

The common factor of all these studies is acetylcholine, the natural compound and neurotransmitter in the brain which assists nerve cell fire. Nicotine behaves significantly similar to acetylcholine by stimulating and regulating the firing of neurons and the release of brain chemicals, such as, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine – this will also make nicotine a mood heightener for some people. 

Professionals believe nicotine’s resemblance of acetylcholine is a contributing factor to enhancing the formation of blood vessels. Endothelial cells, which line the inside of blood vessels, carry a receptor that binds to acetylcholine, this means it will probably bind to nicotine too. 

The Experts

Dr. Paul Newhouse, director of the Centre for Cognitive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre said the nicotine helped patients do better on cognitive tests for “attention memory, speed of processing and consistency of processing.” 

It goes without saying; all the additional chemicals added to cigarettes totally counteract any positive effects of nicotine. However, taken in the right circumstance at a measured rate, nicotine has some incredibly positive side effects.