Alzheimer Disease Can Be Cured by Nicotine

Published on July 15, 2008 2:39 AM

Alzheimer disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer's is a degenerative and terminal disease for which there is no known cure. But scientists believe that the key to new treatment for Alzheimer’s can be nicotine.

Nicotine, even without the carcinogenic effects of smoking, has major lacks: it's addictive and can increase heart rate and blood pressure. But now scientists are trying to develop drugs that target the brain's nicotine receptors to treat an array of cognitive impairments without these side effects.

Studies suggest that smokers experience from cigarettes could help sufferers fight the mental decline associated with dementia.

Nicotine can also be found in small quantities in foods, like cocoa and tomatoes, as well as in tobacco. Nicotine is considered to be additives because it acts as a stimulant, in such a way it can increase the flow of adrenaline in the human body.

A team of scientist from King's College London, which studied five years worth of data, believes they are closer to using the benefits of nicotine towards learning, memory and attention while minimizing the risk of addiction.

"Nicotine, like many other drugs, has multiple effects some of which are harmful whereas others may be beneficial," said Professor Ian Stolerman from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. Professor Ian Stolerman, from King's College in London, added that such treatments could offer "relief" to dementia patients, tens of thousands of whom are diagnosed in Britain every year.