Influencers claim nicotine is not the villain. So, did we get it wrong all this time?
"Nicotine might actually be good for you." A decade ago, that sentence would have got you mocked at. However, things seem to have changed now
"Nicotine might actually be good for you." A decade ago, that sentence would have got you mocked at. However, things seem to have changed now. You don't dismiss the claim at a glance. Why? Because we live in an era where old health beliefs are constantly being challenged and every few weeks the internet discovers a new hack for better health. Read Full Story So, when nicotine begins showing up in conversations about cognitive performance and longevity, curiosity is almost inevitable. Because, even if the internet gets you a new breakthrough in science first, it feels normal. Earlier, nicotine was associated with discussion around smoking and anti-tobacco warnings. Today, there are several videos online claiming that nicotine may not be the villain we once thought it was. There's probably more to its use and benefits. But is it? The wellness claim on nicotine Several wellness influencers are at the helm of this discourse on social media, where they claim it can help boost memory function, concentration and cognitive performance. Dave Asprey, an American entrepreneur and popular biohacker, is one of them. In several podcasts and interviews, he has shared how the isolated use of nicotine, in small amounts, can actually have certain cognitive benefits. Following suit, more wellness influencers on social media started talking about the same, arguing that nicotine has been vilified far beyond reason. It all started a while back and versions of these claims keep circulating across podcasts, Reddit threads and wellness forums, often backed by references to neuroscience studies, longevity research and sharper focus.
While the claims sound compelling, they often leave out an important distinction: nicotine is not the same thing as smoking, but neither does that automatically make it a wellness supplement. Naturally, we turned to experts in the field to unpack the truth. Reality check Nicotine replacement products (NRTs), such as gums and patches, have long been used to help people quit smoking. That's because nicotine itself is not considered the main cancer-causing substance in cigarettes. Instead, the biggest health risks come from the thousands of harmful chemicals released when tobacco is burned, including several known carcinogens. Nicotine's role is different — it's the ingredient that keeps people hooked. And that is also part of the problem. Nicotine is often part of the tobacco cessation conversation as per experts (Photo: Pexels) At its core, nicotine acts like a chemical messenger. Once it reaches the brain, it sparks the release of compounds linked to pleasure, alertness and mood. It also taps into pathways that help regulate attention and memory, which helps explain why some users report feeling more focused after consuming it. "Nicotine can temporarily improve alertness and attention by stimulating nicotinic receptors in the brain. Calling it 'healthy' is misleading," Dr. Lancelot Pinto, consultant pulmonologist and epidemiologist, P. D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mahim, tells India Today. He further explains, "Research shows modest short-term improvements in attention and working memory, particularly in nicotine-naive individuals. The molecule may have neuroprotective effects against cognitive decline, but these are results from association studies and remain speculative, with no early degree of certainty." Unlike time-tested stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine is highly addictive and increases cardiovascular stress, putting vulnerable individuals, especially young adolescents, at greater risk.
The BriefWire