Nicotine May Be An Effective Cognitive Enhancer

According to a Sept. 11 report by The Mind Unleashed, the nicotine in cigarettes is actually an effective drug for focusing attention and improving memory. The misconception that nicotine causes cancer has lead to viewing it in a negative light. The truth is, nicotine itself does not cause cancer. It is other carcinogens present in tobacco products, such as cigarettes, that cause cancer. Vaping, however, does not have harmful carcinogens.

Research conducted by UK’s David M. Warburton from the Department of Psychology at the University of Reading in 1991 concluded that nicotine is an effective cognitive enhancer. Yet, nearly 25 years later, nicotine is still associated with cigarette smoking and is still viewed in a negative light. It seems the tie between nicotine and smoking is not an easy one to break.

Nicotine is believed to be effective for treating conditions with attention deficits or memory issues, such as ADD/ADHD, Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. It is also thought to be effective for treating pain, depression and mild cognitive impairments.

For those who already smoke, switching to an e-cigarette retains the majority of the cognitive benefits of nicotine while reducing the health risks of smoking.