that controls heart rate. At blood levels of nicotine achieved by average smokers, stimulation of the central nervous system ultimately results in discharge of sympathetic neurons leading to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. These changes may be directly or indirectly related to the demonstrated associations of cigarette smoking with heart attacks, worsening of hypertension and stroke. Researchers realised that nicotine manipulates the mind on many different levels, and consequently conceived that in some way nicotine may even boost concentration, or improve memory. After smoking cigarettes, smokers perform better on some cognitive tasks than they do when deprived of cigarettes or nicotine. However, nicotine intake does not improve general learning.Nicotine is a sympatho-mimetic drug, similar to cocaine and amphetamines, stimulating the sympathetic nervous system. Interestingly, scientists have begun to realise that nicotine may be of use as a medicine, as a treatment for various kinds of memory problems such as senile dementia. It may help with Alzheimer's disease and with motor tremors, a symptom of Parkinson's disease.Research has been conducted to observe the effects of nicotine on rats, specifically focussing on the effect nicotine has on memory. Nicotines mimicking of the brain chemical acetylcholine may explain why very few smokers develop Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease there is an unusually low number of acetylcholine receptors, which may substantiate the theory that good memory depends on having sufficient supplies of acetylcholine. It has also been observed that people with schizophrenia and severe depression smoke much more than average, maintaining that smoking alleviates their symptoms. This could certainly be true, as nicotine prompts the release of the powerful brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine, the very chemicals that are out of balance in these people. Nicotine has an adverse effect o...
