Source: Aphrodite Women’s Health
The nicotine patches that help smokers quit the habit might also boost the recall of seniors with the mildest form of memory loss, according to results of a preliminary clinical trial conducted at Duke University Medical Center. While nicotine itself has not been approved for long-term use, the research could point the way toward other nicotine-like drugs that might improve memory without the side effects of nicotine, according to the Duke researchers.
Previous research conducted by the Duke team and others has found evidence that nicotine might benefit people with a variety of disorders – including schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the latest study is the first to examine the drug’s effects on people with age-associated memory impairment (AAMI), a common condition among older people characterized by so-called “senior moments.”
Cartoon by Bob Moran
