Nicotine Good for Memory?

[karenwest1961]

Well, I DO remember to always charge my batteries. LOL

Interesting story:

Nicotine Linked to Enhanced Memory | Popular Science

[jimldk]

It does....they are rehabilitating Nicotine for use in people with Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia and also in Senile dementia....works as part of neurotransmitter than keep us awake and alert...in return improving dopamine response and also memory cells...that's the good part...

[karenwest1961]

Well, we knew somehow that there is some medicinal properties! Thank you for weighing in!

[TheEmperorOfIceCream]

Anecdotal, probably apocryphal, but I've heard the following story a number of times over the last few years:

The development of Parkinsons, Alzheimers and Dementia could be retarded by smoking. This is because the dendrites of the brain get furred, which interferes with synaptic processes. Nicotine lodges in the brain, and being an oily substance, inhibits the fuzziness from forming.

As I say, this is anecdotal (I have no idea if 'brain fuzz' exists) and reads like the case for the defence, but I put it up in case anyone has similar stories or maybe a source.

Emp

[TropicalBob]

You're right, Emp. You can read many studies along those lines at sciencedaily.com. Just search for "nicotine". Part of the medical community is in a frenzy now to prove that the BAD nicotine impacts outweigh the GOOD nicotine effects. There is definitely an anti-nicotine bias in research today. Glad Dr. Loi weighed in. Thanks.

[TropicalBob]

Karen, I'm sure you spotted this paragraph for what it is:

By studying which chemical interactions with nicotine result in which effects, the researchers hope to develop drugs similar to nicotine that provide the benefits without the negative side effects. With that goal of a nicotine-like pill for focus and memory hanging in the future, it is safe to say the many health risks of smoking still far outweigh any cognitive benefits of nicotine.

Big Pharma wants to make a nicotine-like pill to treat conditions. Nicotine will be labeled a medicine. It will be prescribed by doctors. Doctors who treat smokers will prescribe either NRT sources from Big Pharma, or the nicotine-like pill to treat specific patient conditions.

Under no circumstances will smoking ever be considered in a patient's best interests. Big Pharma to the rescue.

As always: Follow the money.

[Spider]

I don't like the sound of brain fuzz... I do however like the sound of more things that justify me inhaling nicotine in some way

[karenwest1961]

Oh yeah, T-Bob. I also envisioned Big-Pharm, Big Tobacco and Anti-Smoking Nazis duking it out among one another to see who is going to be the first to get their paws on our stuff!

My new motto is: Stock up your stuff and stay under the wire as long as you can.

[TropicalBob]

You are so right.

[Lady Python]

(Sigh). My mother didn't smoke and died through Alzheimers disease Her best friend, approaching 90 is a smoker and still alive. It makes me wonder if my Mum had been a smoker if she would still be alive today.