Benefits In Mild Cognitive Impairment With The Use Of Nicotine Patch

A study showed that using a nicotine patch may help improve the symptoms of mild memory loss in older adults. This study was published in the January 2012 in the print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

There are evidences in the ability of nicotine to improve the cognitive performance in smokers who have stopped smoking as well as a noticeable improvement in the attention and memory of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This study concentrated in people with mild cognitive impairment which is considered as the stage between normal aging and dementia. 74 people with mild cognitive impairment and were non smokers were participants of the study. Half of the study participants used nicotine patch 15 mg per day for a period of six months and half were on placebo. Before the start of the study, the participants were tested for their thinking and memory skills and again after a period of three and six months.

The results were amazing; after 6 months of treatment, the participants who used nicotine patches regained 46% of their normal cognitive performance whereas the participants who received a placebo worsened by 26%.

It is of course important to note that this study does not imply that people with mild cognitive impairment and memory loss should start smoking or using nicotine patches. These are all done under the supervision of a clinician. Paul Newhouse, MD, of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville states that this study justifies further research in the use of nicotine for people who are showing early signs of cognitive impairment and memory loss. Researchers do not know whether these cognitive benefits will persist for a long period of time either.

The study noted that there were no serious side effects that developed in the group who received nicotine patch treatments. It is important to know that nicotine has its positive effects too. It can stimulate the receptors in the brain which are important in memory and thinking skills.

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