Time to ‘light up’?
Slogans tell us to ‘butt it’, so it’s difficult to understand how latest research has revealed a compound found in tobacco may help jog the memories of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
The recent study– conducted by Bay Pines VA Healthcare and the University of South Florida – indicated the compound cotinine found in tobacco reduces plaques associated with dementia and also prevented memory loss in mice with Alzheimer’s disease.
Cotinine, the mayor by-product of nicotine, is non-toxic and longer-lasting than nicotine.
The findings, reported on in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease last Friday, indicated the cotinine compound that protects neurons, prevents the progression of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, enhances memory and has shown to be safe.
Researchers, every day for five months, gave cotinine to two-year-old mice that had changed genetically to develop memory problems mimicking Alzheimer’s disease.
The mice treated with cotinine performed better on tasks measuring their working memory and thinking skills compared to the mice which were not treated with cotinine.
Previous studies have also shown people who smoke are less likely to suffer from Parkinson’s disease.
Researchers suggest cotinine may also be beneficial to relieve fear-induced anxiety.
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