Nicotine: A cure for what ails you?

Doctors agree that smoking cigarettes is one of the worst habits for your health. Full of chemicals and harmful compounds, cigarette smoke has been linked to diseases such as cancer, emphysema and heart disease. It’s known for knocking years off of your life. But could there be a healthy side to cigarettes?

Researchers at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma recently performed a study on the potentially positive effects of nicotine. The medical establishment has known for some time that nicotine exhibits benefits on certain brain functions including memory and executive function. Nicotine can also, in certain situations, be neuroprotective (protecting neurons in the brain from degeneration), as well as speeding up the firing of synapses in the brain, helping those who smoke to think more quickly and increasing their concentration.

Of course, with all the harmful and toxic constituents in cigarette smoke, doctors can hardly recommend smoking as a healthful activity.

This review of previous studies focused on the possible benefits of medicinal nicotine. Previous studies have shown that people with depressive-spectrum disorders, schizophrenia and adult ADHD tend to be heavy smokers, pointing to the possibility that nicotine reduces the symptoms of their disorders. Essentially, they’re self-medicating with cigarettes. But could nicotine also have harmful effects that make it undesirable as an actual treatment?

Clearly, those whose disorders are linked to a deficiency or malfunction of dopamine production benefit from the action of nicotine. If nicotine speeds up synapse function and strengthens focus, those with ADHD may find it helpful for their symptoms. The same goes for those with depression. Depression generally causes a slowing in function, which nicotine may abate. Still, doctors are not quite convinced that nicotine could be a safe and effective overall treatment for depression or ADHD.

After reviewing the literature, researchers determined that there are definite negative aspects to medicinal nicotine. Nicotine appears to be harmful for pregnant women, those with Alzheimer’s disease, and older adults who are at risk for neurological disease. Nicotine also appears to have negative effects on the neurodevelopment of children, and may create oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerotic processes.

Still, taking a look at the possible positive effects of nicotine may point to better ways to help people kick the habit. For many, antidepressants such as Welbutrin appear to help with quitting smoking. Taking a more proactive approach to mental healthcare may also help prevent people from smoking in the first place. Public health campaigns focusing on the prevalence of emotional disorders may de-stigmatize depression, ADHD and schizophrenia, making people more inclined to seek treatment for their symptoms and less likely to start self-medicating with cigarettes.

It does appear from the research, though, that medicinal nicotine has a marginal effect at best, and the risks far outweigh the benefits.

© Copyright 2007 Insight Journal Online Magazine.

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