Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Question Title: nicotine and memory

Forum: Neurology Forum
Topic: Neurology - General


I have read that using a nicotine patch or gum will help with memory? Is that correct?


Thanks for your question. Although there have been a number of research
studies correlating nicotine and memory (I included some of such references
below), at this moment there is NOT any support of the clinical use of
nicotine (either in the patch form, or any other form) to improve memory
performance.

Effortful processing is a requirement for nicotine-induced improvements in memory.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1998 Aug;138(3-4):362-8 (ISSN: 0033-3158)
Rusted JM; Graupner L; Tennant A; Warburton DM
Experimental Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

Nicotine enhances the learning and memory of aged rats.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1995 Nov;52(3):517-23 (ISSN: 0091-3057)
Arendash GW; Sanberg PR; Sengstock GJ
Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620, USA.

A comparison of the attentional and consolidation hypotheses for the facilitation of memory by nicotine.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1992;108(4):443-7 (ISSN: 0033-3158)
Warburton DM; Rusted JM; Fowler J
Department of Psychology, University of Reading, UK.


I hope this information is helpful. Best of luck.

This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.
Please consult your doctor regarding diagnostic and treatment options.

[Neurology Forum]      [Neurology Forum Archives]

[Health News and Commentary]