Aging Brain May Get Protection From Chemical In Tobacco Products – Says New Study

A type of chemical contained in tobacco products when isolated and administered, could protect an aging brain and potentially prevent Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, a new study revealed.

The study has been published in Journal of Toxicology and that suggests that when nicotine is administered independent of tobacco, could help in promoting an increased level of receptors in the human brain. The study states further that nicotine isolated from tobacco could also be helpful in weight loss objectives.

Researchers used young adults of male mice obtained from the breeding colony in A&M University's laboratory in Texas. Researchers then divided the mice into four groups. The first three groups were administered nicotine with varying concentrations via drinking water while the 4th group was not given any nicotine and formed the control group.

The researchers found that mice that received the medium or low concentration of nicotine failed to show any presence of the drug in the blood. Conversely, the group exposed to higher concentration showed certain levels of presence of the drug in the blood. Further, the group that received the highest concentration also experienced lesser weight gain and ate less. This group also showed more receptors in the brain.

Further, the researchers also did not notice any side effect in terms of behavior in the mouse exposed to high doses of nicotine.

Explaining further, associate professor at the A&M college, Usula Winzer-Serhan stated as reported in Science daily, nicotine helps in decreasing anxiety and is the reason for many people taking to smoking. However, some others opine that it increases anxiety. He added that negative behavioral changes were the last thing one would want when administering a drug chronically.

The researchers added further that the present findings are in no way meant to encourage the use of various tobacco products. Tobacco products do come with plenty of negative side effects that scours out potential benefits of protection to aging brain from tobacco products.