As nicotine products gain popularity among students and professionals pursuing cognitive enhancement, three critical findings demand attention. First, despite over 100 controlled trials examining nicotine and cognition, not a single study has evaluated daily use in healthy, non-smoking individuals. Second, even the longest available evidence—a 2-year trial examining cognitive impairment—failed to demonstrate statistically significant benefits. Third, this growing off-label use proceeds entirely without a safety or efficacy data foundation. The practical implication is sobering: millions of people are self-experimenting with nicotine as a cognitive enhancer based on anecdotal reports rather than rigorous science. Until well-designed trials specifically examine daily nicotine use in healthy populations, consumers lack evidence-based guidance on dose, duration, safety risks, and actual cognitive outcomes. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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