Nicotine has a new Image

New research suggests that nicotine is a surprisingly potent drug for a variety of diseases that afflict the brain, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Tourette's syndrome.

Tourette's syndrome is a strange affliction in which victims are beset by spates of tics, shouted obscenities and violent urges.

Nicotine is thought to work by regulating the brain's levels of message-carrying chemicals, such as dopamine and acetylcholine.

Nicotine patches have been used for neurological diseases in both children and the elderly, and drug companies are tying to come up with nicotine substitutes that carry fewer side effects.

to Alzheimer's News