Nicotine Patch May Aid Memory Problems

Wearing a nicotine patch may provide a small boost for older adults with mild losses in attention and memory, a study suggests. The study included 67 older adults with mild cognitive impairment. This is a decline in mental function that is not severe enough to be called dementia. People with this condition are more likely to develop dementia, however. People in the study were randomly assigned to wear either a nicotine patch or a placebo (fake) patch for 6 months. Test scores for reaction times, attention and long-term memory improved among those wearing the nicotine patch. Their short-term memory did not improve as much. Test scores went down for people wearing the placebo patch. The journal Neurology published the study. The New York Times and HealthDay News wrote about it January 9.